CityCenter

The facility comprises three hotels (the Harmon was slated to open in late 2010), two residential towers, a casino, a tram, a shopping and entertainment district, and $40 million worth of public art. This newcomer eschews the themed concept that has become commonplace with other Vegas mega-resorts, and is instead sleek, modern, and sophisticated—resembling more of an office complex than a luxury resort. CityCenter also is committed to sustainability, with all of the buildings earning silver status through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system.

The Story

If CityCenter were a movie, it would undoubtedly be as long, dramatic, and expensive as Titanic. When the project originally was conceived in the early 2000s, MGM/Mirage estimated the effort would cost about $4 billion. Over the course of the decade, however, rising construction costs and design changes drove the price tag into the stratosphere. The project eventually cost $8.5 billion. To help defray these costs, MGM/Mirage entered into a joint venture partnership with Dubai World. The two sides bickered over payments (Dubai World refused to fork over some of the cash, then relented) but eventually resolved their differences. All told, seven world-famous architects and two major construction companies collaborated on the project. Perhaps their biggest accomplishment was incorporating eco-friendly design elements into all of the buildings. The three hotels that were completed by March 2010 each had elaborate systems designed to use reclaimed water. There's also an on-site power plant.