Aria Resort and Casino

Aria Resort and Casino

Aria Resort & Casino seen from above
Location Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
Address 3730 South Las Vegas Boulevard
Opening date December 16, 2009 (December 16, 2009)
No. of rooms 4,004[1]
Total gaming space 150,000 sq ft (14,000 m2)
Signature attractions Aria Art Collection
Notable restaurants Sage, Julian Serrano, Bar Masa, Jean Georges, Bardot Brasserie, Tetsu
Owner MGM Resorts International and Infinity World Development[2]
Architect Pelli Clarke Pelli[1]
Website aria.com

Aria Resort and Casino is a luxury resort and casino, part of the CityCenter complex on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. Aria consists of two curved glass and steel highrise towers adjoined at the center. It opened on December 16, 2009 as a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Infinity World Development. At 4,000,000 sq ft (370,000 m2) and 600 ft (180 m) in height, it is the largest and tallest structure at CityCenter.

The resort's 61 and 51-story towers contain an American Automobile Association five diamond[3] hotel with 4,004 guest rooms and suites, 16 restaurants, 10 bars and nightclubs, and a casino with 150,000 sq ft (14,000 m2) of gaming space. It also has a 215,000 sq ft (20,000 m2) pool area with 34 cabanas, an 80,000 sq ft (7,400 m2) salon and spa, a 300,000 sq ft (28,000 m2) convention center and a 1,800-seat theater which hosted Zarkana by Cirque du Soleil, until closing April 30, 2016.

Among the most notable aspects of Aria is its incorporation of technology in the exterior and interior design of the hotel,[4] specifically for the reduction of energy consumption. It is the largest hotel in the world to have earned LEED Gold certification.[5] On account of its smart rooms which automatically adjust curtains, turn off unused lights and electronics, and regulate the temperature when a guest enters or leaves a room, Aria was described in Popular Mechanics as possibly "the most technologically advanced hotel ever built".[6]

History

Construction, opening

Construction progress in 2007
Construction as completed in 2009

Aria was conceived by MGM Mirage (now MGM Resorts International)[7] as part of the broader CityCenter development project, which was announced on November 10, 2004. The architectural design of Aria was conducted by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, and construction began in early 2006 on a plot of land located between the Bellagio and Monte Carlo. This site was previously occupied by the former Boardwalk Hotel and Casino, retail stores, and a large parking lot, all of which were excavated beginning in April 2006. Following excavation, Aria's foundation was poured in June 2006. Vertical progression commenced in September 2007, at which point construction workers built upwards at a rate of one floor every seven days until reaching the final height of 61 floors.[8]

Amid ongoing construction in 2007, Infinity World Development, a subsidiary of Dubai World,[9] invested about $2.7 billion to acquire a 50% stake in the CityCenter project. From this point on, Aria was jointly owned by MGM Resorts International and Infinity World Development, with MGM solely responsible for operations and management. The economic downturn and its ripple effects – including litigation – threatened to halt construction of Aria at one point in early 2009,[10] but an additional funding arrangement was made, allowing construction to continue on schedule.[11] The resort opened on December 16, 2009, in the same month as several other CityCenter properties such as The Crystals, an attached retail shopping complex.[12][13]

Design and facilities

The completed structure comprises two curvilinear glass towers, measuring 61 stories tall.[14] At the base of the connected high-rise towers is a casino and a three-story lobby that incorporates natural materials including foliage, flowers, glass, wood, and stone.[15] Aria's design is described as not adhering to an overarching theme, in contrast to themed resorts prevalent on the Las Vegas Strip.[16][17] It was named Aria due to its placement as the central feature of CityCenter, as arias are focal points in operas.[18]

Entrance and lobby

Aria lobby, with the Julian Serrano restaurant in background

Artwork is incorporated throughout the lobby and interior of the building. The main entrance contains a lighted water feature called "Lumia" which syncs water bursts to music.[19] Maya Lin, designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., created an 87 ft (27 m) reclaimed silver sculpture of the Colorado River called Silver River which is suspended behind Aria's hotel registration desk.[8] A result of its design, Aria is the largest hotel in the world to have received LEED Gold certification.[5]

Hotel

An Aria hotel room's interior

Aria contains 4,004 hotel rooms within its 4,000,000 sq ft (370,000 m2).[20] The suites make up 568 of the rooms, and a portion are referred to as Sky Suites, a Forbes Five Star hotel. Sky Suites are categorized separately since they are accessed via a private entrance and elevator, and include transportation between the hotel and airport in limousines fueled by compressed natural gas.[21] At the time of its opening in 2009, Aria was the 9th-largest hotel in the world as measured by the total number of rooms.[22]

All rooms have a touch-screen automation system which automatically adjusts curtains, turns off unused lights and electronics, and regulates the temperature when a guest enters or leaves the room. Room dimensions begin at 520 sq ft (48 m2). The standard suites range in size from 1,050 to 2,060 sq ft (98 to 191 m2).[6][20][23] The two top floors of the hotel consist of a separately designated room category entitled Sky Villas, which range from 2,000 to 7,000 sq ft (190 to 650 m2) in size.[24]

Convention center

Convention center inside Aria

A three-story, 300,000 sq ft (28,000 m2) convention center includes four ballrooms (three with fully functioning theatrical stages), 38 meeting rooms and a three-story 400 ft (120 m) long window overlooking the pool. As of 2009, the window was the largest glass-curtain wall of its type ever constructed in a public building. An additional 900,000 sq ft (84,000 m2) is allocated for back-of-house areas, offices, and a subterranean parking garage.[25] In December 2015, Aria announced an expansion of its convention center with construction to begin in May 2016 and completed in February 2018.[26]

Casino

The only casino within the CityCenter complex is located at Aria. Its 150,000 sq ft (14,000 m2) of gaming space includes slots, poker, table games, and a race and sports book.[20] The gaming machines are controlled and monitored by a 3,000 sq ft (280 m2) data center and are changed to play the most popular games based on real-time data collected about the performance of each machine.[6] Exterior windows are present along the edges of the casino floor and skylights are part of the ceiling in the high-limit gaming area, differing from traditional casino design which historically omits natural light.[20][27] Lemongrass, the first Thai restaurant to be opened on the Las Vegas Strip, is one of multiple restaurants located within the casino area.[28]

Aria Pool Deck

Photo of one of the pools

Located at the base of the Aria Casino is the 182,985 sq ft (16,999.9 m2) Pool Deck containing one large pool surrounded by tropical landscaping and multiple smaller pools. The general Pool Deck has a security kiosk and retail shop at the entrance as well as the Breeze Cafe, Pool Bar, and 34 cabanas. The Pool Deck structures were designed by Graft's Los Angeles[29] office with structural engineering provided by Geiger Engineers,[30] exclusive of the Liquid Pool area. The cabanas are structural steel covered with tensile fabric. The Breeze Cafe and Pool Bar are sweeping canopies created by layering stucco on top of unusual curved steel skeletons. A separate outdoor pool area called LIQUID Pool Lounge was opened in March 2010.[31] The Breeze Café at Aria Pool Deck has since closed, but guests can order food pool-side from a limited menu via a waitress.

Attractions

Restaurants, clubs, spas

There are 16 restaurants as well as 10 bars and clubs within Aria, covering a total of about 250,000 sq ft (23,000 m2).[32] Julian Serrano, a tapas restaurant in the lobby named after its chef, was noted as one of Esquire Magazine's "20 Best New Restaurants in 2010".[33] Sage, described as a contemporary American restaurant, is also located in the lobby area.[34] Among the other restaurants led by celebrity chefs are BARMASA, a modern Japanese restaurant by Masa Takayama and a steakhouse run by Jean-Georges Vongerichten.[20][35][36]

An 80,000-square-foot (7,400 m2) salon and spa covers two floors of Aria, and a coed balcony attached to the spa overlooks an outdoor infinity-edge pool.[37]

Cirque du Soleil's Gold Lounge is located in the Aria Resort & Casino and is 3,756 square feet (349 m2).[38] The design is reminiscent of Elvis' mansion, Graceland, and black and gold are utilized extensively throughout the décor. The bar has the same shape as the bar in the Elvis mansion as well.[39] The music played changes throughout the night including upbeat Classic rock, commercial House music, Elvis remixes, minimal hip-hop, Top 40, and Pop.[40] As of mid-2015, Gold Lounge is closed for remodeling and undergoing a $4 Million makeover.[41] Jewel, will replace Haze as the new nightclub in Aria. It is set to open in March 2016.

Shows

Zarkana at the Aria Resort and Casino

Cirque du Soleil, CKX, Inc. and its subsidiary Elvis Presley Enterprises created a permanent show at Aria celebrating Elvis' music entitled Viva Elvis.[42] The show premiered on February 17, 2010 and consisted of music, singers, dancers, acrobats and multimedia components that paid tribute to the King of Rock 'n' Roll.[19] Aria's Gold Boutique Nightclub and Lounge is themed after Elvis' former Graceland home.[19]

Viva Elvis ended its run on August 31, 2012 due to low ticket sales, and was replaced on November 1, 2012 by Cirque du Soleil's rock opera Zarkana.[43][44] Zarkana closed in April 2016 to allow for the expansion of the convention center.

See also

List of tallest buildings in Las Vegas

References

  1. 1 2 Powers, Ashley (December 21, 2009). "Vegas places a huge bet on its newest showcase". Los Angeles Times. p. a–15.
  2. ↑ "MGM Mirage 2009 Annual Report" (PDF). MGM Mirage. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2011-03-07.
  3. ↑ De Lollis, Barbara (January 14, 2011). "AAA Announces Five Diamond hotels for 2011". USA Today. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  4. ↑ Brandon, John (July 12, 2010). "Best High-Tech Hotel of 2010". Inc. Magazine. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  5. 1 2 Ogle, Trent (December 18, 2009). "Sustainability at CityCenter". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  6. ↑ Berzon, Alexandra (April 21, 2010). "MGM Mirage to Become MGM Resorts International". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  7. 1 2 Friess, Steve (December 3, 2009). "CityCenter: Vegas 4.0". Los Angeles Weekly. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Profile: MGM Resorts International (MGM.N)". Reuters. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  9. ↑ Spain, William (December 16, 2009). "CityCenter opens for business". Marketwatch. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  10. ↑ Witcher, T.R. (December 19, 2009). "How Las Vegas' Opulent CityCenter Survived Dubai". Time Magazine. Archived from the original on February 12, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  11. ↑ Velotta, Richard N. (December 16, 2009). "MGM Mirage execs gather to mark opening of CityCenter". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  12. ↑ Finnegan, Amanda (December 16, 2009). "Welcome to CityCenter: New Strip casino opens its doors". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  13. ↑ Lubell, Sam (January 27, 2010). "City of the Glammed". The Architect's Newspaper. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  14. ↑ Morago, Greg (March 6, 2010). "Checking in at CityCenter". Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  15. ↑ Muther, Christopher (March 28, 2010). "Viva less Vegas". Boston Globe. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  16. ↑ Goldberger, Paul (October 4, 2010). "What Happens in Vegas: Can you bring architectural virtue to Sin City?". The New Yorker. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  17. ↑ Yancey, Kitty Bean (November 24, 2009). "Las Vegas' new CityCenter, a big gamble, prepares to open". USA Today. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  18. 1 2 3 Zurowski, Monica (March 5, 2010). "Viva CityCenter". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 Robison, Jennifer (December 2, 2009). "CityCenter wow-inspiring". Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  20. ↑ Blanco, Sebastian (August 7, 2009). "Sin City orders up 26 CNG-powered stretch limos for new CityCenter". Autoblog. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  21. ↑ "Top 10 largest hotels in the world". Hotelier Middle East. March 11, 2010. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  22. ↑ "ARIA Sky Suites". CityCenter. Archived from the original on March 3, 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  23. ↑ Garrido, Ric (December 11, 2010). "Hotel Detail – Aria Resort and Casino, Las Vegas". Reuters. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  24. ↑ MGM Mirage (May 19, 2008). "CityCenter Unveils Details of Development's Resort Casino". Market Wire. Archived from the original on 22 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  25. ↑ "ARIA Resort & Casino Announces Major Convention Center Expansion to Deliver Unrivaled Meetings & Events Experience". newsroom.aria.com. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  26. ↑ Herman, Valli (December 30, 2009). "Peter Marino brings glamour to Aria Resort & Casino". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  27. ↑ Radke, Brock (March 31, 2010). "Lemongrass' place at the table". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  28. ↑ "Architizer.com". Retrieved 2011-05-24.
  29. ↑ "Geiger Engineers, Suffern, NY". Retrieved 2011-05-24.
  30. ↑ Yancey, Kitty Bean (June 22, 2010). "LIQUID Pool Lounge at CityCenter's ARIA Resort and Casino". USA Today. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  31. ↑ Trask, Gary (December 21, 2009). "Top-10 CityCenter facts and figures". Casino City Times. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  32. ↑ Leach, Robin (October 12, 2010). "Counter Intelligence: Esquire names Julian Serrano one of the best". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  33. ↑ "Esquire magazine lauds CityCenter restaurants". Travel Weekly. October 26, 2010. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  34. ↑ Trejos, Nancy (January 28, 2010). "Las Vegas bets the future on a game-changing new hotel complex". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  35. ↑ Garrido, Ric (December 12, 2010). "Aria Resort Las Vegas -Pools, Spa and Dining". Boarding Area Loyalty Traveler Blog. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  36. ↑ Leo, Jen. "Las Vegas CityCenter hotels join Spa Week". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  37. ↑ "Las Vegas Ultra Lounge Gold". The Light Group. Archived from the original on February 9, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  38. ↑ "Cirque du Soleil Lounges". Cirque du Soleil. Archived from the original on February 14, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  39. ↑ "Gold Lounge" (PDF). Cirque du Soleil (Press Material). Retrieved April 15, 2011.
  40. ↑ Martin, Bradley. "Aria's $4 Million Gold Lounge Makeover Starts Soon". Las Vegas Eater (Article). Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  41. ↑ Donnelly, Pat (December 17, 2009). "Viva Elvis opens in Las Vegas". The Gazette (Montreal). pp. C3.
  42. ↑ Leach, Robin (March 7, 2012). "Cirque du Soleil's 'Zarkana' replacing 'Viva Elvis' at Aria". Vegas Deluxe. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
  43. ↑ Katsilometes, John (November 23, 2011). "MGM Resorts tells Cirque to shutter ‘Viva Elvis’ at Aria". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
  44. ↑ "Aria Resort & Casino Las Vegas". Archived from the original on 11 October 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
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