MGM Mirage CityCenter Must Re-examine Says County

February 9, 2009 · Print This Article

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Clouds of structural doubt hang by MGM Mirage CityCenter - visit photo for hi-rez

A pile of 62 incorrect QA reports along with the discovery of structural deviations from the approved engineering designs for the Harmon Hotel & Spa have resulted in Clark County Development Services requiring additional inspections of the massive CityCenter project on the Las Vegas strip.

A January inspection of the Harmon Hotel & Spa found 15 of the first 22 stories of the tower did not meet the structural engineering specifications even though a third-party inspection firm of Converse Consultants was contracted to supply project quality assurance including on-site inspections and certifications of compliance. Apparently the rebar in horizontal concrete beams was not fabricated and installed correctly resulting in a diaviations that could allow excessive lateral movement of the structure in high winds or during a seismic event.

After the building flaws

were discovered CityCenter Holdings LLC, a partnership amoung MGM Mirage and Dubai World announced they would lop off the top 22 floors of the planned 47 story tower and eliminate the planned200 plus residential condominiums. General Contractor for the CityCenter project is Perini Building Company. The ‘all-new’ compact Harmon Hotel & Spa tower occupies the corner of Harmon and the Las Vegas strip at the entrance to the $8.6 billion CityCenter project.

A re-inspection of structural work on the other high rise towers at CityCenter must be performed by an outside inspection firm, other than Converse Consultants, to ensure structural integrity and public safety. Should the inspections reveal additional quality problems and buildings have to be downsized they could always rename it CityCenter, Light.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Harmon Hotel & Casino at CityCenter (center)