LAS VEGAS, March 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Identifying the
perfect building block for the Las Vegas Strip's newest development
was no short order.
Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/77609243-mgm-the-park-las-vegas-rock/
To create more than 600 geometric stone pieces for The
Park – MGM Resorts' immersive outdoor dining and
entertainment district taking shape on The Strip's west side – the
company and !melk, a landscape architecture and urban design
practice, scoured options far and wide. The team sought material
that was not only environmentally appropriate, but would
beautifully complement the surrounding desert landscape and add
eye-catching detail for visitors when The Park opens April 4.
As it turns out, they found exactly what they were looking for
just a stone's throw away. About 30 miles south in the desert
foothills, Las Vegas Rock mines the multi-hued meta-quartzite
stones selected for the job. This vibrant rock – ranging in tone
from fiery rusts and golds to burgundies and plums – has been
crafted into some of The Park's most integral design features.
Envisioned as an experiential eco-oasis mirroring the Mojave
Desert's striking natural beauty, The Park will be unlike anything
ever constructed on the manmade marvel that is the Las Vegas Strip.
In many ways The Park represents a return to the land for a city
whose development history has traditionally stood in stark contrast
to its native ecology.
As one of its most prolific building elements, Las Vegas Rock's
meta-quartzite measures up to The Park's intricate sustainability
standards in more ways than one.
Not only does utilizing this locally extracted stone minimize
the construction phase's carbon footprint, reducing the fossil fuel
miles required for transportation to the project site,
meta-quartzite's vivid strata variations introduce colors
characteristic of the Southwestern landscape to Las Vegas
Boulevard. Reminiscent of some of Nevada's most iconic natural landmarks,
including Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire, meta-quartzite is a
product of similar ancient geology that formed these locations
during the Jurassic Period.
And despite Las Vegas'
reputation for harsh heat, The Park will offer a cooler and more
comfortable atmosphere thanks to plenty of shade and the use of
materials like meta-quartzite. Because of its porous physiology,
meta-quartzite absorbs and dissipates heat, making it cooling to
the touch – an ideal stone for constructing outdoor spaces in hot
climates.
Among the pieces Las Vegas Rock will produce for The Park are
giant, crystal-like planters to contain the native vegetation and
flora that will bring the desert to bloom at the heart of The
Strip. The geode-shaped planters also will offer inset seating for
park goers to relax and enjoy their surroundings.
To harvest this stone from the mountain side, Las Vegas Rock
carves the red meta-quartzite from the mountain quarry in large
blocks. The rough pieces are then hauled to the base of the hill
and on to the processing facility for the next steps.
The entire process is a mindful one. The first and only natural
stone manufacturer to have achieved the US Green Building Council's
Innovation in Design Cradle to Cradle Certification, Las Vegas Rock
operates a zero-waste facility, repurposing all bi-products for new
use, recycling water and sustainably mining their quarry to
conserve the precious stone for generations to come.
To achieve multi-dimensional surfaces, not unlike cut diamonds,
the most advanced stone masonry technology was required. Using
seven-axis machine saws acquired specifically for the project, Las
Vegas Rock's stone artists used 3D computer programming to slice
the massive pieces of rock from multiple directions. Sandblasting
hones and seals the exterior to create a windswept, weathered
effect like one might observe in the geology of the nearby canyons.
The results are curvaceous pieces that fit together, creating
stunning exteriors for the planters.
Fusing nature and urbanity, The Park will be an experiential
outdoor complex between Monte
Carlo and New York-New York
where patio cultures offering dining, entertainment and more spill
into an incredible desert-scape that leads to the new T-Mobile
Arena. Created by nature and crafted by man, meta-quartzite mirrors
the dual worlds that will intersect within The Park and will be an
elemental part of their fusion through design.
Did You Know
- Las Vegas Rock holds a geological patent for the unique
meta-quartzite stone mined from the 900-acre Rainbow Quarry.
- The deposit was formed by prehistoric sand dunes nearly 200
million years ago, but only since the 20th century
mining boom has it been a stone quarry. In operation since the
1920s, Rainbow Quarry thrives today thanks to Las Vegas Rock's
sustainable extraction efforts.
- More than 1,000 tons of meta-quartzite stones will be
incorporated into features of The Park
- Signature planters will feature windswept, red meta-quartzite
walls with inset seating formed by rounded white quartz
benches.
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SOURCE MGM Resorts International