CityCenter Construction Commences With Foundation Pour

MGM Mirage Sets Project CityCenter Foundation

With more than 10,000 cu. yds. of concrete delivered by convoy, MGM Mirage set the foundation for Project CityCenter during one large-scale overnight pour.
The $7 billion urban metropolis CityCenter opens in 2009 on 66 acres between Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts. At the heart of the action on the Las Vegas Strip, CityCenter will feature a 60-story, 4,000-room hotel/casino, two 400-room, non-gaming hotels, 500,000 sq. ft. of retail shops, dining and entertainment venues and luxury condominiums.

Perini Building Company is the general contractor on the project.

MGM Mirage also named three additions to the architectural design team, which have been selected to give shape to the project's retail/residential component, a modern urban residential district rich with high-end shops, gourmet restaurants and unique pedestrian environments. Chicago, Ill.-based Murphy/Jahn Architects was selected as the lead architect for CityCenter Residences. Studio Daniel Libeskind will be the lead architect on the CityCenter Retail District with Rockwell Group providing interior architectural design. Both firms are based in New York City.

Project CityCenter's residential Presentation Center will open in January 2007.

In addition, MGM Mirage will pursue the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED certification at Project CityCenter. The 18-million-sq.-ft., multi-use project will incorporate a variety of elements - from the use of reclaimed water to on-site power generation - to make it one of the world's largest environmentally sustainable urban communities.

Bluegreen Corporation to Develop
New Resort Property in Las Vegas

Bluegreen Corporation has purchased approximately 10 acres of land in Las Vegas near the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Paradise Road where it plans to build a new resort, preview center and retail complex. The company plans to begin construction and open its initial timeshare sales operations in Las Vegas during the third quarter of 2006.

Bluegreen plans to construct a seven-story resort featuring approximately 240 two-bedroom timeshare units for availability through the Bluegreen Vacation Club in the fourth quarter of 2007. Bluegreen has also negotiated an option to purchase an additional 4 acres of adjacent land, which has already been entitled for the development of an added 240 luxury timeshare units.

Other plans for the development are to develop approximately 48,000 sq. ft. of commercial space for a restaurant, retail center, and an 18,000 sq.-ft. preview center.

Planned resort amenities include a pool, spa, game room, pool bar and a health club.

$90 Million Medical Development in NW Las Vegas

Huffman Builders West broke ground on the Centennial Hills Center, a 300,000-sq.-ft. medical and dental development in Northwest Las Vegas. The $90 million development will house over 50 customized offices, 60 percent of which have already been purchased or leased. Although the development is not limited to individuals in the medical profession, 85 percent of the sold or leased office spaces will house medical and dental professionals.

Located on North Durango and Grand Montecito Parkway, one half of a mile from the 225-bed UHS Centennial Hills Hospital and one-forth of a mile from both I-95 and the 215-Beltway, the Centennial Hills Center is in a prime location for medical professionals.

The entire project will include a total of 12 single-story buildings, one 60,000-sq.-ft. two-story building, and one class "A," 90,000-sq.-ft. three story building with a two story parking structure, all of which will be constructed with a contemporary, professional design. The facility is also slated to include amenities such as parking ratios of almost six spaces per 1,000 sq. ft. of buildings, a two-story parking structure, and lush landscaping throughout the site. The projected completion date for the Centennial Hills Center is the second quarter of 2007.

Griffin Structures, Inc. Selected for Neon Museum Project

Griffin Structures, Inc., was selected to provide program management services for delivery of the Neon Boneyard Park and museum campus. Showcasing a vital part of Las Vegas history, the Neon Museum project will include a campus for the future Neon Museum, a public park and neon sign displays that have been preserved.

When completed in early 2008, the Neon Boneyard Park will include picnic facilities, playground equipment, passive recreation space, a restroom building, parking and enhanced landscaping. Griffin's duties include selection and management of the project design team, coordination throughout the design phase, right-of-way and easements acquisition, bid administration and construction management services.

Canyon Capital Finances Lady Luck Renovation

The renovation and rebranding of the former Lady Luck Casino Hotel will move forward in downtown Las Vegas thanks to a senior bridge loan from Canyon Capital Realty Advisors to Nevada-based owner Downtown Resorts, LLC. Downtown Resorts plans to complete a comprehensive renovation of the Lady Luck's 627 hotel rooms and approximately 54,000 sq. ft. of casino, restaurant and retail space located on North 3rd Street between Stewart and Ogden avenues. The renovation of the Lady Luck will complement an entertainment district that includes the adjacent 3rd Street, an approximately 25,000-sq.-ft. entertainment complex with a number of nightclubs and restaurants.

Downtown Las Vegas is currently undergoing a development revitalization that includes residential, office, government buildings and entertainment projects that will coincide with the new resort and lead to increased interest in the area.

Downtown Resorts hired Breslin Builders as general contractor and Klai Juba as architect of record for the renovation.

Jacobs Receives Program Management Consultant Contract for the RTC

A subsidiary company to Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. will provide day-to-day program management consultant services to the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada. Jacobs will oversee numerous projects under this contract, including capital project development, transit planning and operations, engineering services, facilities maintenance and management, vehicle procurement, information technology, intelligent transportation systems, safety, security and construction management.

Jacobs' primary goal is to support the development of capital projects and associated construction management activities. Jacobs will support the RTC staff in all program management functions necessary to ensure the on-time, within-budget completion of RTC projects as well as assist the RTC with coordination and oversight of all design and construction management consultants.