Norman Foster-Designed Tower to be Demolished in Las Vegas

Around the corner from buildings by Daniel Libeskind and Rafael Vinoly (just to name two) in the CityCenter section of the Las Vegas Strip, a never-complete building, designed by Forster + Partners, stood empty for years. Not for long.

1 minute read

May 29, 2014, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"Foster + Partners’ Harmon Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip is being razed without ever opening," reports Tony Illia.

If you're unfamiliar with the backstory on this conspicuous failure, let Illia tell the tale: "Owner MGM Resorts International received court approval on April 22 to demolish the unfinished 27-floor, oval-shaped tower following a protracted legal battle with its contractor, Tutor Perini Corp., over building defects. The Harmon once figured prominently in the $8.5 billion CityCenter hotel-casino-entertainment complex that opened in December 2009. Today, it stands empty and half-built, its facade serving as a makeshift billboard."

"The Harmon will be dismantled piecemeal, floor-by-floor, over the next year. Demolition will cost $11.5 million, with work starting this summer."

Wednesday, May 7, 2014 in Architectural Record

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