LAS VEGAS—Crystals at CityCenter has earned the VIVA “Best-of-the-Best” designation by the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the global trade association of the shopping center industry. Crystals is one of only three 2012 VIVA (Vision, Innovation, Value and Achievement) award winners in the world.
“The VIVA ‘Best-of-the-Best’ award honors and recognizes the most outstanding examples of shopping center design and development, sustainability, marketing, and community service worldwide,” ICSC said in a statement.
“Crystals is an integral part of CityCenter and was created with a vision to bring a new level of environmental consciousness to the world-famous Las Vegas Strip,” said Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International. “As one of the world’s largest sustainable developments, CityCenter’s environmental responsibility spans the spectrum from design and construction to operations and guest amenities.”
CityCenter is the world’s largest private green development. MGM Resorts co-developed CityCenter with Infinity World Development Corp., a subsidiary of Dubai World.
ICSC said Crystals is an “architectural movement of sheer energy, as the exterior architecture is a multi-faceted, glass canopy depicting the intricate beauty of a quartz crystal that welcomes an abundance of natural light into the stunning three-level experiential environment.”
Only Winner in Sustainability Category
ICSC annually bestows VIVA awards in just three categories: marketing, design and development, and sustainability. Crystals is the only winner named in the sustainability category.
After opening its doors in late 2009, Crystals won a 2011 ICSC Gold Award and Sustainable Design Award in the “Innovation Design and Development New Project” category. The category recognizes and honors a new shopping center on how it demonstrates a specific design or resolution of a construction problem, or how new standards in design and construction were established.
The gold award was based on how Crystals met five criteria: sustainability, including transportation; education about environmental responsibility and engaging retailers in sustainability design and operations; water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.
All gold winners in ICSC’s regional awards programs are automatically entered into the prestigious global awards program.
In 2009, the U.S. Green Building Council awarded its LEED Gold certification to Crystals for sustainability. Crystals is the largest LEED Gold-certified retail district in the United States. In addition at CityCenter, LEED Gold certifications have been awarded to ARIA Resort & Casino’s hotel tower, convention center and theater; Vdara Hotel & Spa; Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas; and Veer Towers.
Go to CityCenter.
