LVCVA Unveils Modern New Look for Las Vegas Convention Center Expansion

April 12, 2018

If the recently unveiled design drawings of its expansion project are any indication, the nearly 60-year-old Las Vegas Convention Center has a vibrant new look in its future.

Presented on April 10 by architects from tvsdesign to the Board of Directors of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the drawings depict an innovatively designed, modern-looking convention center as iconic as the city itself, according to Rossi Ralenkotter, CEO of the LVCVA.

“This is one of the most important days in the history of the LVCVA,” Ralenkotter said. “Southern Nevada’s economy is driven by tourism and this expansion will propel our convention center forward to enable us to maintain our status as the number one trade show destination in North America.” 

Last month, Geotechnical & Environmental Services (GES) began drilling for all footing locations at the site and is conducting subsurface explorations to determine soil properties and assist with engineering recommendations. Besides marking out the depths they hit caliche, ground water and past structures that may have been buried in the lots, GES is also sending core samples to a lab to determine any environmental impacts. 

The Las Vegas Convention Center District’s Phase Two is an $860 million expansion project that will add 1.4 million square feet to the existing facility, including at least 600,000 square feet of new exhibit space. 

Construction is expected to be fully underway by the fall and completed by the beginning of 2021, just in time for CES, according to LVCVA officials.

Late last year, the LVCVA’s Board of Directors finalized the selection of tvsdesign / Design Las Vegas to provide design services for the expansion project. 

“Our biggest goal was to give Las Vegas a convention center that will be iconic, with a design that nods to all of the very unique architecture in the city’s history, while also providing contemporary, cohesive design aesthetic across the entire property,” said Rob Svedberg, principal of tvsdesign.

He continued, “Being iconic in Las Vegas is different than being iconic in other places, and we really want this building to be unique in the marketplace and provide something no other convention center can, while also having a strong identity, so that when someone sees it, they immediately know that it’s the Las Vegas Convention Center.” 

Phase Three will entail the complete renovation of the existing 3.2 million-square-foot facility, with a projected completion date of 2023. The phased approach will ensure that no business is displaced during the construction and renovation. 

LVCVA staff worked in partnership with Cordell Corporation principal Terry Miller, the agency’s contracted owner’s representative, to develop the vision for the $1.4 billion, multi-year, four-phase expansion and renovation project.

Phase One, which includes a 20-acre outdoor exhibit area, more than 3,000 parking spaces and three acres of landscaped walkways, was completed in early 2017.

Each year, Las Vegas hosts approximately 22,000 meetings, conventions and trade shows, which directly support an estimated 54,800 jobs paying $2.3 billion in wages and salaries. 

In 2017, the Las Vegas Convention Center hosted 21 percent of convention attendees traveling to southern Nevada, which directly supported approximately 8,600 jobs, paying $375 million in wages and salaries. Including indirect and induced impacts, the LVCC’s attendees generated $2.1 billion in economic impact throughout the local economy.

The LVCC District Expansion (Phase Two) and Renovation (Phase Three) are expected to support nearly 14,000 construction jobs and nearly 7,800 full-time permanent jobs upon completion. The project will generate an additional $2.1 billion in economic activity during construction and upon completion will have an annual incremental economic impact of $810 million while attracting more than 600,000 additional visitors each year. 

The project will allow the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to pursue new business opportunities while also growing the shows currently held in the destination. 

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HERE, hosting responsible meetings and caring for our communities are top priorities. Through its 'Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet' philosophy, MGM Resorts commits to creating a more sustainable future, while striving to make an impact in the lives of employees, guests, and the communities in which it operates. Water Stewardship Efforts MGM Resorts understands the importance of using water efficiently, especially in the desert destination of Las Vegas. Conserving water has always been part of the mission, but MGM Resorts has expanded its ambition into water stewardship. In 2022, MGM Resorts President and CEO Bill Hornbuckle signed the CEO Water Mandate—a UN Global Compact initiative mobilizing business leaders to advance water stewardship. MGM Resorts International was the first gaming company to take this important step. MGM Resorts replaced 200,000 square feet of real grass with drought-tolerant landscaping in Las Vegas. MGM Resorts pledges to reduce water withdrawal intensity by 33% by 2025 and by 35% by 2030. From 2007-2021, use of more than 5.6 billion gallons of water was avoided because of conservation efforts. Caring for One Another MGM Resorts’ Food Donations Program collects and preserves unserved food from conventions held at MGM Resorts properties, then safely donates to food insecure people in the community. Since the program’s launch in 2016, more than 3.7 million meals toward a 2025 goal of 5 million meals have been donated into the community. Donations include: Unserved perishable prepared foods from events Perishable unprepared food from MGM Resorts’ kitchens Nonperishable food items from minibars and warehouses The collaboration with Southern Nevada’s primary food bank, Three Square, has developed the infrastructure needed to safely collect, transport, and store food from MGM Resorts properties in Las Vegas, reducing food waste while serving the community. Fostering Diversity and Inclusion To MGM Resorts, a diverse and talented workforce is essential to success. By cultivating innovative strategies that consider multiple perspectives and viewpoints, the company creates an inclusive workplace culture that benefits its employees and community. MGM Resorts takes pride in being a welcoming home for veterans, individuals with disabilities, people from diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+ community members, and more. This commitment to inclusion is reflected in the company's recruitment and hiring practices and its social responsibility initiatives. From the workplace to the community, MGM Resorts' commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion remains unwavering, and its efforts continue to create a more equitable and sustainable world for all. MGM Resorts understands its responsibility to contribute to the social and economic progress of the communities in which it operates. HERE, we embrace humanity.