Anyone who is looking for glitz and glamour makes a beeline for Las Vegas. There’s never a dull moment in this resort city, which is why it’s one of the most popular locations on the planet. It’s a major hotspot for gaming, of course, and there are plenty of shopping opportunities and places to eat and drink. In fact, Vegas resort boasts some of the most high-end places to eat and drink in the whole of the US. Step away from the casinos and the shops to explore, and you can go on trips to the Grand Canyon (Arizona), Death Valley (California), and Zion National Park (Utah).
Vegas being the glamorous place it is means you’re also going to see some unbelievable architecture. Below is a look at some of the finest-looking buildings in Las Vegas.
Cleveland Clinic Lou Rovu Center
If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, check out the Deconstructivist Cleveland Clinic Lou Rovu Center, designed by the architectural genius behind the Guggenheim Museum, Frank Gehry. This famous medical building, which looks like a pile of collapsed steel facades, first opened as a practice in 1921 but later benefited from the Canadian American’s audacious architectural style in 2010 after Gehry was commissioned to work on it.
Since its early days, the center has grown from being a small outpatient clinic into an integrated international health system and has more than 65,000 caregivers worldwide. The center receives almost 6 million patient visits per year at more than 200 locations.
Smith Center for the Performing Arts
From the very start, the minds behind the Smith Center for the Performing Arts envisioned the center as a world-class performing arts center. The project planning team took its inspiration from the Hoover Dam and traveled around more than 100 venues to gather ideas. The Art Deco of the famous dam won them over, and the design work fell to nationally recognized architect David Schwartz and his team. One of the big aims of the building was to pay homage through its architectural style to the role of the Hoover Dam in the development of Las Vegas.
The Mob Museum
Referred to commonly as the “Mob Museum,” the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement isn’t just an intriguing place for true-crime fans, but also an outstanding piece of architecture. After a courtroom hearing at the federal building in the 1950s to ask individuals questions about organized crime, the building went on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
The neoclassical style of architecture implemented for the building is inspired by classical Greek and Roman architecture and was popular at the time for federal buildings. In the case of the Mob Museum, this timeless style represents the solidity of the nation. Architectural terracotta is combined with blended yellow brick and accented with bas-relief columns. The three different stories of the building feature different materials.
MGM Grand Hotel and Casino
The original MGM Grand Hotel and Casino was designed by Veldon Simpson, who was also the man behind the Luxor and the Excalibur. The building has been remodeled several times since it was first built in 1993 and although little remains of the original design, the MGM Grand still retains its Emerald City green exterior.
The casino spoils visitors with a sportsbook and a wide selection of slots and table games and is especially renowned for its no-limits and high-stakes offerings. This is also relevant for the online versions of the games where you can find bonus codes with BetMGM as a way to grow their online presence, along with the idea that it may attract people to the physical casino too. The MGM Grand also hosts big names and shows as part of its entertainment offering. That’s because it and other traditional casinos have come under heavy pressure due to competition from online casinos, which run a variety of offers and promotions to attract new players. It is important, especially within Las Vegas, to be one step ahead of your competitors.
Guardian Angel Cathedral
The Guardian Angel Cathedral in Winchester, in the Las Vegas Valley, serves more than 760,000 Catholics and is the Mother Church of the Archdiocese of Las Vegas. The cathedral was founded in 1963 and boasts an A-frame that has stained glass windows visible from anywhere in the cathedral, which also features a large four-side spire. The frame fits in perfectly with all the glamour of the Vegas Strip, and the cathedral seats as many as 1,100 people.
The architect behind the cathedral design was Los Angeles-based architect Paul J. Williams. He took on the project after the St Viator home church was razed to the ground. Funds for the project came from Morris Barney Dalitz, a philanthropist who had previously been known for his criminal connections but who then raised his public profile by investing in building projects in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas oozes glitz and glamour, from restaurants to casinos to museums, and this is down to some of its fantastic buildings. If you happen to be visiting Vegas, other impressive feats of architecture, casinos aside, include the Nevada Supreme Court, the Neon Museum, and the Fashion Show Mall.
