It looks like Las Vegas has yet another really big green show at City Center a new project of MGM MIRAGE. A sign of the times is that it is LEED rated. Evidently it has a living wall. Can you imagine what Patrick Blanc could have done with the kind of money these casino resort operators spend?
Years ago I spent a lot of time in Las Vegas when in the preserved palm business. The Mirage atrium became our iconic installation and there were many trade shows and conventions to attend over the years.
The Mirage Atrium via www.treescapes.com
The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) trade show was a don't miss annual event. Although definitely not my favorite place in the world there were some fun times, particularly when the experience was new.
Incidentally, I have the rather dubious distinction of being the only person who worked for all three preserved plant companies of the time; Weyerhaeuser Specialty Plants (yes, that Weyerhaeuser), Nature Preserved and Preserved Treescapes International.
Unfortunately, two of these companies were not very well preserved and sank under my feet. PTI is still going strong, thanks to founder/CEO Dennis Gabrick's persistence. He is the king of "pickled palms" as Forbes magazine once wrote.
So, check it out and maybe visit with some of your green. They will find a way to take it but you will likely smile while they do.
Las Vegas is known for its bright neon lights and array of bold colors, but the most prominent color CityCenter will be known for is green.
CityCenter, an extraordinary urban resort destination, was created with a vision to bring a new level of environmental consciousness to the world-famous Strip.
Environmental sustainability, or "going green," is about conserving today to protect tomorrow. CityCenter reflects a vision of the future that combines a healthy quality of life with a commitment to sustainable design. Eight award-winning architects have engineered a "city within a city," where residents and visitors can live, work and play. This vibrant community transforms expectations, providing a remarkable demonstration that a community can be both beautiful and sustainable for today and for future generations.
From its inception to design, development and construction, there was one single goal in mind: create a destination that is not only built in an environmentally sustainable manner, but also operates every day with an equal commitment to conserving natural resources.
The CityCenter team set a standard for responsible growth in Las Vegas by pursuing the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification. LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark for design, construction and operations of high-performance green buildings. More than 60 LEED-Accredited Professionals from across the United States contributed their expertise to CityCenter over the project’s five-year design and construction process. CityCenter is the world's largest environmentally sustainable, mixed-use new construction development to achieve LEED certification. USGBC has awarded six distinct LEED Gold certifications to ARIA Resort & Casino’s hotel tower, convention center and showroom; as well as Vdara Hotel & Spa, Mandarin Oriental, Crystals, and Veer Towers.
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