hospitalitystyle.com

(September 2008) posted on Tue Sep 09, 2008 EDT

Sustainable design can also be luxe—and still not bust the budget. Here’s how.

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By Matthew Hall

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The Palazzo Las Vegas generated some serious buzz in hospitality design circles earlier this year by becoming the largest building of any kind to gain silver-level certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.

The sleek new resort-a Las Vegas Sands Corp. property that towers 50 stories over the fabled Strip and houses 3,066 suites, a 105,000-square-foot casino, more than a dozen restaurants and 60-plus luxury boutiques-won LEED points for a variety of eco-friendly features, including water-efficient bathroom fixtures that use 37 percent less water than conventional plumbing; structural steel composed of 95 percent recycled content; in-room air conditioning controls that automatically allow the temperature to rise several degrees when guests aren't present and dip back to a lower setting when they return; and an extensive use of natural light in its public areas.

Sands Corp. officials could not provide specifics on what impact The Palazzo's sustainable features had on its $1.9 billion price tag, nor could they detail how much they expect these environmental initiatives to save the company in reduced operating costs. But they obviously feel the effort to go green was worth it. "We are convinced that LEED certification will have a positive economic impact on this project for years to come," says Brad Stone, the company's executive vice president.

Sustainability is also being woven into the design DNA of the nearby CityCenter, a 67-acre "urban metropolis" that's slated to open in November 2009. That $9 billion complex, being developed by MGM Mirage, will incorporate a variety of green design features similar to those of The Palazzo, including custom low-flow bathroom fixtures and an extensive use of natural lighting. In addition, CityCenter will feature an on-site power plant whose excess heat will be harnessed to warm the water used by guests.

 

Sustainable Stampede

Clearly, green has come to glitz central. But this is one case where what happens in Vegas isn't staying in Vegas. Thanks to a confluence of factors, including ever-growing ranks of eco-conscious consumers, an expanding cadre of sustainable products and systems and exponential increases in energy costs, green design is red hot.