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Vdara

Summary

Vdara (/vəˈdɑːrə/ və-DAR-ə)[1] is a condo-hotel and spa within the CityCenter complex, located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. It was designed by Rafael Viñoly, and is located across from CityCenter's Aria Resort & Casino. Vdara opened on December 2, 2009 as a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Dubai World. In 2021, MGM bought out Dubai World and sold Vdara to The Blackstone Group, while remaining as operator.

Vdara Hotel & Spa
Vdara as seen from the Aria
Map
General information
StatusOperating
TypeCondo hotel
LocationParadise, Nevada, U.S.
Address2600 West Harmon Avenue
Coordinates36°6′34″N 115°10′41″W / 36.10944°N 115.17806°W / 36.10944; -115.17806
Topped-outMay 14, 2008
OpeningDecember 2, 2009
OwnerThe Blackstone Group
ManagementMGM Resorts International
Technical details
Floor count57
Design and construction
Architect(s)Rafael Viñoly
DeveloperMGM Resorts International
Other information
Number of suites1,495
Number of restaurants1 (Market Cafe Vdara)
Website
www.vdara.com

Vdara's 57-story tower houses 1,495 suites. The non-gaming property also includes a two-floor spa, meeting space, a pool deck, a market cafe, and a bar. A design problem was discovered in 2008, when it was learned that the hotel's reflective surface and concave design can act as a parabolic reflector that creates conditions of extremely high temperature at the pool deck.

History edit

Vdara was announced in October 2006, as part of the CityCenter project by MGM.[2] It was designed by Rafael Viñoly.[3][4] The name "Vdara" is made up. It was coined by Rafael Viñoly Architects, taking its "V" from "Vegas" and "ara" from boutique hotels in California such as Park Hyatt Resort Aviara and Ritz-Carlton Bacara.[5] On May 14, 2008, Vdara became the first of the CityCenter towers to be topped off.[6][7] Vdara opened to invited guests and media on December 1, 2009. The public opening occurred the following day, making it the first component of CityCenter to open.[8][9][10]

For its environmentally friendly design, Vdara was designated as a LEED Gold building prior to its opening,[11][12] and received a five-key rating from Green Key Global in 2010.[13]

In 2021, MGM bought out its CityCenter partner, Dubai World, gaining full ownership of the Vdara hotel and Aria.[14] That same year, MGM sold both properties for $3.89 billion in cash to The Blackstone Group, which leased them back to MGM for an annual rent of $215 million.[15][16][17]

Features edit

Vdara is a non-gaming and non-smoking hotel.[18] The crescent-shaped 57-story tower includes 1,495 suites,[8][19] ranging in size from 582 to 1,447 sq ft (54.1 to 134.4 m2).[20]

The property originated as a condo hotel, giving owners the option to participate in a rental program to lease their condos as hotel rooms when they are not residing there.[21] However, due to poor economic conditions brought on by the Great Recession, MGM converted 1,350 units into regular hotel rooms, leaving approximately 150 as residential units.[22][23] Condo closings began in March 2010.[24]

 
Big Edge sculpture outside the hotel entrance

Artwork is incorporated into Vdara's interior and exterior design.[8] Nancy Rubin's 57 by 75 ft (17 by 23 m) sculpture Big Edge, made of various boats,[25] is displayed outside the entrance of the hotel.[26][27][28] It features approximately 200 canoes, catamarans, kayaks, paddle boats, rowboats, and surfboards held together with stainless steel wire cable. The sculpture is meant to resemble a blooming flower.[25] A large painting by Frank Stella hangs above the registration desk in the lobby.[27][29]

Vdara includes an 18,000 sq ft (1,700 m2) two-story spa and salon,[30] and a 40,000 sq ft (3,700 m2) pool area.[8][3] Abbey Beach, a dayclub pool event targeted at a gay clientele, operated during 2010.[31][32] The Bellagio resort, located directly north of Vdara, connects to the hotel via a covered walkway.[20]

Vdara opened with 10,000 sq ft (930 m2) of meeting space,[8][3] and one full-service restaurant, Silk Road, which served Mediterranean food.[8] It was designed by Karim Rashid.[33] Market Cafe Vdara, a small grocery store also serving sandwiches and pastries, opened in March 2011.[34][35] Silk Road closed simultaneously, due to lack of demand.[36][37] In 2013, part of the former restaurant was converted into meeting and event space, with a Starbucks taking up the remainder.[38] Two years later, Vdara opened a bar, Vice Versa, in its lobby. It serves food, and includes indoor and outdoor seating which overlooks CityCenter.[39][40][41]

In 2017, Vdara debuted autonomous robots capable of delivering certain room-service items.[42]

Solar glare edit

In 2010, it was established that the tower's south side, with its reflective surface and concave design, can act as a collecting mirror. The reflected rays of the sun create dangerous conditions of extremely high temperature at the pool deck. Hotel employees and news outlets referred to the phenomenon as the "death ray", while management preferred the term "solar convergence".[43][44][45][46]

MGM and contractors became aware of the problem in 2008.[47][48] Vdara management considered various solutions but the challenge in overcoming the structural design problem is that the sun and its reflection are targets that constantly move during the day and as every season progresses.[43][49] Management installed large blue umbrellas over the pool deck to protect bathers,[50] while the hotel's glass exterior has been covered with non-reflective film.[51][52]

Viñoly also designed the "Walkie-Talkie" skyscraper in London, opened in 2014, which has been dubbed the "Walkie-Scorchie" and "Fryscraper" due to a similar, sun-reflecting and scorching problem.[51][53][54]

Gallery edit

  •  
    Construction in mid-2007
  •  
    Outside Vdara's entrance
  •  
    Vdara at night
  •  
    Lobby and bar area, 2010
  •  
    Market Cafe Vdara

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Kapelke, Chuck (17 April 2009). "View From Vegas: Vegas Gone Wild". Smart Meetings.
  2. ^ Stutz, Howard (October 26, 2006). "Got $8 million? That will get you CityCenter penthouse". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on November 25, 2006.
  3. ^ a b c Stutz, Howard (November 30, 2009). "Vdara brings CityCenter into operation mode". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  4. ^ "Q&A with Vdara architect Rafael Viñoly". Las Vegas Business Press. January 4, 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  5. ^ "Question of the Day". Las Vegas Advisor. March 11, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  6. ^ Stutz, Howard (May 14, 2008). "The Race to Break the Clouds". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  7. ^ Ogle, Trent (May 16, 2008). "Topping Out CityCenter". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Finnegan, Amanda (December 1, 2009). "Vdara hotel marks opening of CityCenter". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  9. ^ Finnegan, Amanda (December 1, 2009). "MGM Mirage begins lifting veil on CityCenter today". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  10. ^ "CityCenter here; the future is now". Las Vegas Business Press. December 21, 2009. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  11. ^ Stutz, Howard (September 14, 2009). "Development wins three coveted design certifications". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  12. ^ Lucht, Nicole (September 18, 2009). "Strip Hotels garner LEED gold". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  13. ^ "MGM Resorts touts green award in Vegas, Detroit". Nevada Appeal. July 16, 2010. Archived from the original on July 23, 2010.
  14. ^ Wargo, Buck (September 8, 2021). "Dubai World set to end 14-year CityCenter partnership with MGM Resorts". CDC Gaming Reports. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  15. ^ "MGM to sell Aria and Vdara; more transactions..." Hotel Business. 2021-07-06. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  16. ^ Sayre, Katherine (2021-07-01). "MGM Resorts Agrees to Sell Las Vegas CityCenter for $3.9 Billion". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  17. ^ Segall, Eli (September 28, 2021). "MGM Resorts completes sale-leaseback of Aria, Vdara". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  18. ^ "CityCenter's Vdara officially open for business". NBC News. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  19. ^ Blank, Chris (March 5, 2018). "List of No-Casino Hotels on the Las Vegas Strip". USA Today. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  20. ^ a b Finnegan, Amanda (December 3, 2009). "Vdara exec predicts strong sales at new hotel". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  21. ^ Sorkin, Andrew Ross (May 27, 2009). "Building It Big in Las Vegas". New York Times. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  22. ^ Gregor, Alison (October 16, 2012). "Las Vegas Project Survives a Case of Bad Timing". The New York Times. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  23. ^ Radke, Brock (August 4, 2013). "Vdara caters to a new guest: your dog". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved February 2, 2023. It also makes sense to allow hotel guests to bring dogs because Vdara has always maintained a small number of residential units (about 140 out of 1,495 total suites), and some of those residents have pets.
  24. ^ Wargo, Buck (May 28, 2010). "CityCenter condo closings slow in down economy". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  25. ^ a b Peterson, Kristen (May 3, 2009). "CityCenter's crown jewel". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  26. ^ Peterson, Kristen (May 5, 2009). "CityCenter's art collection was never in doubt, even when it was itself". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  27. ^ a b Benston, Liz (December 17, 2009). "At CityCenter, art for the masses right next to the slots". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  28. ^ Friess, Steve (December 2, 2009). "CityCenter: Vegas 4.0". LA Weekly. pp. 1–5. Archived from the original on December 13, 2009.
  29. ^ Peterson, Kristen (July 16, 2014). "The normalcy of seeing great art on the Las Vegas Strip". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  30. ^ Ventura, Leslie (April 14, 2016). "Espa at Vdara relaxes while it remedies". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  31. ^ Rilling, Deanna (September 1, 2010). "The Abbey brings gay nightlife from LA to the Vdara pool". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  32. ^ Padgett, Sonya (September 2, 2010). "Vdara enters pool party fray with Abbey Beach, catering to gays, lesbians". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  33. ^ Virbila, S. Irene (March 7, 2014). "The best tastes of CityCenter in Las Vegas". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  34. ^ "Silk Road restaurant to close, grocery store to open at CityCenter's Vdara". Las Vegas Sun. February 8, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  35. ^ Benston, Liz (March 8, 2011). "Vdara market at CityCenter caters to guests' evolving appetites". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  36. ^ "CityCenter hopes new signage brings more traffic". Las Vegas Sun. March 1, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  37. ^ Stutz, Howard (February 9, 2011). "Vdara closing Silk Road restaurant March 8". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  38. ^ Komenda, Ed (June 25, 2013). "Ventis at Vdara: CityCenter adding a fourth Starbucks". VegasInc. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  39. ^ Stapleton, Susan (February 23, 2015). "Vdara Swings a New Lounge and Patio, Vice Versa". Eater. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  40. ^ Stapleton, Susan (April 3, 2015). "Vdara's new lobby bar in Las Vegas switches it up". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  41. ^ Radke, Brock (December 15, 2016). "Escape to Vdara's Vice Versa for a cutting-edge cocktail". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  42. ^ Retrieved February 2, 2023:
    • Akers, Mick (July 10, 2018). "Vdara employs a pair of robots to deliver room service". VegasInc.
    • Gardner, Terry (July 17, 2018). "At a Las Vegas hotel, this pair will bring snacks, drinks and more to your room. If they seem robotic, it's because they are". Los Angeles Times.
    • Prince, Todd (July 10, 2018). "More hospitality robots are calling Las Vegas Strip home". Las Vegas Review-Journal.
    • Ventura, Leslie (August 6, 2018). "Robots, humans working together on Las Vegas Strip". VegasInc.
  43. ^ a b Whitely, Joan (September 24, 2010). "Vdara visitor: 'Death ray' scorched hair". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  44. ^ "'Death ray' at Vegas hotel pool heats up guests". NBC News. September 30, 2010.
  45. ^ Lax, Rick (October 6, 2010). "Vdara Death Ray? What Vdara Death Ray?". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  46. ^ "Vdara 'death ray' captures imagination of world's media". Las Vegas Sun. October 2, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  47. ^ "Las Vegas Hotel Knew of Pool 'Death Ray' Back in 2008". ABC News. September 27, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  48. ^ Friess, Steve (September 30, 2010). "Las Vegas 'Death Ray' Singes Tourists: 'Jesus, They Destroyed the Ozone Layer!". AOL News. Archived from the original on October 27, 2010.
  49. ^ Whitely, Joan (September 30, 2010). "Media warms up to man's encounter with Vdara's 'death ray'". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  50. ^ "The 'death ray hotel' burning Las Vegas visitors came up with a simple fix" by Leanna Garfield, Business Insider, 30 June 2016
  51. ^ a b "'[Vdara] was a completely different problem,' said Viñoly, insisting he was following a masterplan that specified arc-shaped towers. 'We pointed out that would be an issue too, but who cares if you fry somebody in Las Vegas, right?'" : from "Walkie Talkie architect 'didn't realise it was going to be so hot'" by Oliver Wainwright, The Guardian, 6 September 2013
  52. ^ Martin, Hugo (November 16, 2016). "Some Wilshire Grand neighbors say the tower's glass surface creates too much glare". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  53. ^ Memmott, Mark (September 3, 2013). "Death Ray II". NPR. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  54. ^ "From the Walkie Talkie to the Death Ray Hotel: buildings turn up the heat" by Jon Henley, The Guardian, 3 September 2013

External links edit

 
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