Talk about green building bling. There certainly is no place on earth like Vegas. The hotels, the casinos, the restaurants, the lights, the performers, the people...the 'only in Vegas' list goes on and on. Now there's a new item to add to that list. MGM Mirage and Dubai World have partnered to build the largest urban sustainability project in the world in the heart of the strip called CityCenter. The 76 acre, $7 Billion project is aiming for a USGBC LEED rating and hopes to raise the stakes for green building in the casino industry both in Vegas and around the world. Eco-attributes of the project include recycled construction materials, sustainable new materials, water and energy conservation, attention to indoor air quality, etc. Given the city's commitment to sustainability and projects like the Springs Reserve, the odds are good we'll see more sustainability happening in Vegas in the future. Hopefully, in this case, what's happening in Vegas won't stay in Vegas. Lets hope casino cities like Reno, Atlantic City, and Monte Carlo follow suit.
