The Park | Las Vegas, Nevada | 2016

Landscape Architects: !melk
Planners: Cooper Robertson & Partners
Architects: Marnell Architecture
Client: MGM Resorts International
General Contractor: Shaw-Lundquist Associates Inc.
Civil Engineers: Lochsa Engineering
Structural Engineers: Lochsa Engineering
Electrical Engineers: JBA Consulting Engineers
Lighting Designs (site): Lighting Design Alliance

“The Park” is the first ever public park along the world-renowned Las Vegas Strip. Since its opening in the Spring of 2016, “The Park” is already regarded the most visited park in the world (piggybacking on the draw of the Las Vegas Strip itself, which is - with 43 million visitors annually - the most visited tourist destination in the world). “The Park” is unique in the sense that it is an attractive, yet robust public space, resilient to large volumes of pedestrians, while addressing the extreme climate of the Mojave Desert. The design of “The Park” mitigates the challenges of its location: exposure to sun, heat, dust storms, and scarcity of water, to create the most enjoyable and sustainable urban experience possible.

Pioneered by the owner of “The Park”, MGM Resorts International, the latest trend along the Las Vegas Strip is “to get rid of the fake” and as such, “The Park” is perhaps the most “authentic” place ever built in Las Vegas. The lush and cutting edge design of “The Park” celebrates the beauty and vernacular of the Mojave Desert by reinstating what Las Vegas once was: an oasis in the desert. All vegetation in “The Park” is native to the region and thrives in hot and dry environments with minimal water. “The Park” utilizes the most innovative sustainability standards, including sustainable water sourcing and irrigation methods, saving millions of gallons of water each year - in fact, “The Park” is already recognized as a precedent for design in arid climates in the 21st Century. “The Park” strives to create spaces that exude an identity that is unique to the context of Las Vegas. Its design celebrates the Mojave desert by using its vegetation, patterns, colors, and materials.

The planter edges are constructed from solid blocks of local metaquartzite stone (unique to the area). Patio-style seating encourages a genuine social environment, while seating alcoves tucked into large planters provide areas for respite. The placement of elements throughout “The Park” is a careful interplay between material, form, and texture. Contributing to the iconicity of “The Park” are the soaring 60-foot tall shade structures. Organized as a series of clusters, these “Desert Blooms” are artful contributors to the microclimate. At night they are beautifully lit and add an unexpected dimensionality, which ties back to the spectacle of the Las Vegas Strip. The shade structures are an example of the many innovative elements found throughout “The Park.” They are constructed from one-inch thick steel, using a CNC double-curved cold-forming fabrication method, which is unique to the ship building industry.

As an overall composition, “The Park” is a testament for what is possible in contemporary andscape Architecture. It confirms that a project can be an economic engine while at the same time functioning as an exemplar of sustainability. “The Park” proves the eminent power that well-designed public space can transform an urban condition, elevate user experience, and completely change the perception of a place. This change in perception is most notable by the actual inhabitants of Las Vegas showing their appreciation for this much-needed public space by making “The Park” a frequent destination for their social and recreational activities. There now exists a welcome counter-point to the hectic hustle and bustle of the Strip.