In 2012, MGM Resorts International launched a $500 million renovation project on Las Vegas Boulevard that has completely changed the pedestrian realm for the city. The Park is an immersive outdoor complex nestled between the Monte Carlo and New York-New York resorts and features the first public park in the history of the Las Vegas Strip.
MGM Resorts’ newest development is pedestrian-friendly and features dining pavilions, retail outlets, performance spaces, and an oasis of desert inspired landscape. The development took nearly three years to complete and was divided into phases, spanning over 13 acres, and included a large renovation and redesign of the frontage zones for the two hotel properties prior to developing the public park. With its neighborhood environment, The Park acts as the “connective tissue” between the resorts, flowing seamlessly to the new 20,000-seat T-Mobile arena.
Classic Stone began working with !melk, landscape architect and master planner, in 2013 to assist with the vision and overall layout of the paving stone. The design for the paving stone was inspired by the unique pavement design seen throughout the streets of Lisbon, Portugal. Classic Stone accompanied !melk on a visit to Lisbon to gain a better understanding of the design intent and brainstorm on color combinations and patterns that would be fitting for the desert backdrop in Las Vegas. Over 30 different marble options were presented in various shapes during the selection process. Ultimately, eight different marbles and three different granites were specified and incorporated into three different patterns to be used throughout the project.
Richly textured marble cobbles were used for the hotel entrances and exterior surroundings and exhibit unique mosaic patterns in a spectrum of earth-tone color palettes. The light colored paving stones complement the desert surroundings and maintain a high Solar Reflectance Index for a natural cooling effect. The pedestrian walkways were designed using marble bricks and are distinguished by a running bond pattern. The stair treads, risers, wall caps and veneers for the plantar walls were finished with white granite in a flamed finish. To ensure continuity, the paving patterns and colors were continued throughout all phases of the project.
In addition to the paving stone, Classic Stone provided over 11,400 sq ft of travertine for wall cladding in the plaza area. Although this wasn’t originally in our scope of work, MGM was so pleased with our products and services that they awarded us this contract during the final phase of the project. We sourced the travertine from Iran and fabricated the material in our factory in Turkey, following extremely detailed cut sheets for a complicated kerf system installation.
In total, Classic Stone supplied and fabricated over 280,000 sq ft of natural stone for the project. Portions of this project have received LEED Gold certification from the USGBC.
