Apple plans lavish 20,000-sf Las Vegas mega store
As extravagant as hotels in Las Vegas have become, the next stage of uber-spectacular may arrive when the $8 billion CityCenter resort opens next Fall on the city's world famous Strip, and electronics maker Apple Inc. is said to be an integral part of the project.
Developed by Mirage MGM and designed by eight architects with distinctly-different styles, the complex of towers on 76 acres south of the Bellagio hotel will feature lavish condominiums, hotels, casinos and 500,000 square-feet of retail space within several uniquely-designed spaces.
According to people familiar with the project, Apple has been selected to anchor the development's most valuable and prominently positioned retail space on Las Vegas Boulevard, spanning two levels and sprawling over 20,000 square-feet. When it opens in the fall of 2009, there will be three Apple stores in the so-called Entertainment Capital of the World along a four-mile section of the Strip.
The retail and public area of the development, called The Crystals, was co-designed by Studio Daniel Libeskind and Adamson Associates Architects. According to the Libeskind Web site, the retail spaces will be housed, "within crystalline, metal-clad shapes" right along the Strip. "A dramatic entryway into the retail area from the Strip will draw pedestrians into the public arcade, covered by an expressive, spiraling roof structure," the web site states.
The project's public spaces will also allow for a variety of urban experiences, the design firm says, including a water feature at the entry, cafés and a grand staircase leading to Casino Square.
Even compared to standards set by some of Apple's latest high-profile stores, the CityCenter retail spaces are extravagent. Architect's renderings show the storefronts as all-glass, framed by irregular geometric shapes tilted at varying angles. The project is well into its construction, and you can see a live webcam here.
Story co-authored by Gary Allen, creator and publisher of ifo Apple Store, which provides close watch of Apple's retail initiative.
Developed by Mirage MGM and designed by eight architects with distinctly-different styles, the complex of towers on 76 acres south of the Bellagio hotel will feature lavish condominiums, hotels, casinos and 500,000 square-feet of retail space within several uniquely-designed spaces.
According to people familiar with the project, Apple has been selected to anchor the development's most valuable and prominently positioned retail space on Las Vegas Boulevard, spanning two levels and sprawling over 20,000 square-feet. When it opens in the fall of 2009, there will be three Apple stores in the so-called Entertainment Capital of the World along a four-mile section of the Strip.
The retail and public area of the development, called The Crystals, was co-designed by Studio Daniel Libeskind and Adamson Associates Architects. According to the Libeskind Web site, the retail spaces will be housed, "within crystalline, metal-clad shapes" right along the Strip. "A dramatic entryway into the retail area from the Strip will draw pedestrians into the public arcade, covered by an expressive, spiraling roof structure," the web site states.
The project's public spaces will also allow for a variety of urban experiences, the design firm says, including a water feature at the entry, cafés and a grand staircase leading to Casino Square.
Even compared to standards set by some of Apple's latest high-profile stores, the CityCenter retail spaces are extravagent. Architect's renderings show the storefronts as all-glass, framed by irregular geometric shapes tilted at varying angles. The project is well into its construction, and you can see a live webcam here.
Story co-authored by Gary Allen, creator and publisher of ifo Apple Store, which provides close watch of Apple's retail initiative.
Comments
However, I wish Apple would put just one store off the strip somewhere. There are two million of us residents who would prefer not to drive to the strip every time we need something.
I'm hoping for an Apple Store when the Red Rock Resorts opens it's shopping center. I think that will be high profile enough for Apple.
Apple should just design its own structure. But I think someone wants to catch up to Dubai here...
Actually, the UAE sovereign fund is a half-owner in the project if I recall correctly. Great place for an Apple store...
Having said that, I find it interesting that Apple is going to have 3 stores, all within 3 miles of each other (Towncenter, City Center, and Fashion Show). Towncenter typically has customers, though only busy on the weekends it seems. Fashion Show is a mob everyday of the week. I don't think they're going to cannibalize off each other simply because Towncenter caters more to the locals while City Center is a world of its own and the Fashion Show will more than likely retain their mid to high end shoppers from Bellagio, Mirage, Venetian, and Wynn.
Just mind boggling how this company has turned itself around in the past five years.
6 people have died already during the construction of this. There was a major walkout this week to force a safety audit. Here's to hoping no one else dies...
Talk about pushing the envelope, how about that leaning skyscraper? That looks pretty scary to me.
"IT'S" = "IT IS"
"ITS" = the possessive pronoun
It is the latter of this pair that the above posters meant to use.
It's huge, and it looks like it's going to be gorgeous. This is the biggest non-government construction project ever. Over 10 billion dollars (and rising).
If apple can get a primo spot in it, that's fantastic. And I don't think there can be too many stores on the strip, there are tons of duplicate stores not far from each other on the strip, and it doesn't seem to hurt those businesses at all.
I can't wait to see the finished project and apple store in person.
Too many instances of the error here to ignore today . . . (Just trying to help)
"IT'S" = "IT IS"
"ITS" = the possessive pronoun
It is the latter of this pair that the above posters meant to use.
I has fixed my its.
The towers around the outside look good, but the middle area is too messy looking.
i guess cartoonish asymmetry is IN
Anyway, this would definitely make it worth it to go back to Vegas for me.
I find it interesting that Apple is going to have 3 stores, all within 3 miles of each other (Towncenter, City Center, and Fashion Show).
You forgot the new store at the Forum Shops. FOUR stores in a three mile strip.
I drive by the City Center everyday as I drive to my data center. It really is becoming quite the resort. With it's modern look, it makes the surrounding buildings look old.
The problem with these outrageous designs is that them become dated much more quickly than something more conservative.
The problem with these outrageous designs is that them become dated much more quickly than something more conservative.
Conservative? Las Vegas???
i guess cartoonish asymmetry is IN
I'm sure that's how the architect sold it. To me it looks like he was just indulging himself at the client's expense.
Colorado River tricky animal
Desalinated water from Coast
Very expensive
Thank You
BC Kelly
Tallahassee Fla
I think this is a bad idea. Why does Apple need 20K sf to sell their stuff? What could they possibly fill the space with?
Based on what we don't know right now, I'd say it could be a very savvy move on their part.