CityCenter

When MGM Mirage and their developers were planning construction of the massive CityCenter project in Las Vegas waterproofing was a major concern. CityCenter was going to be the largest private development in the United States, with 76 acres (310,000 square meters) of hotels, retail, entertainment and residential; all sitting atop a shallow aquifer which runs the length of the Las Vegas strip.  

The luxury towers of the massive complex were designed to be connected by a valet tunnel located significantly below grade. Numerous elevator pits (72 pits in the main tower alone) as well as swimming pools and water features at ground level and above parking lots would require proper waterproofing to prevent water leakage and damage. CityCenter would also be home to a new Cirque du Soliel show; the new show was designed with water features on stage fed by a water tank that sits well within the aquifer. The builders of CityCenter were aiming to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold-level certification from the US Green Building Council.

Solution

Gensler, the world’s largest global design and architecture firm and executive architect on the CityCenter project had worked with Kryton in the past and were familiar with the Kryton line of products.  Gensler selected Kryton’s integral crystalline admixture because it promised to not only save time and money but also contribute to the overall environmental sustainability of the project.  

2,400 cubic meters (3,000 cubic yards) of KIM concrete was waterproofed in the valet tunnel, the 72 elevator pits in the main tower plus all elevator pits in the other buildings, all other critical below-grade structures and areas, the swimming pools and water tank that would support the water features during Cirque du Soliel’s show. A total of 20,000kg (44,000 pounds) of KIM was used in the massive project. Kryton’s Krystol Waterstop System was also used in the below grade structures to waterproof the construction joints. 

CityCenter is the world’s largest mixed-use new construction development to earn LEED certification.  Kryton’s KIM admixture was the perfect choice as an environmentally friendly alternative for creating waterproof concrete. It extends the life of concrete structures, reduces jobsite waste by being available in pulpable bags and enables the future recycling of concrete materials. Unlike most membranes and other integral waterproofers, KIM contains no volatile organic compounds and is non-toxic and safe for contact with potable water. 

CityCenter was completed in December 2009 in just 5 years at a cost of $11 billion dollars. CityCenter is home to one of the largest public art collections in the United States and several luxury hotels including: the Mandarin Oriental, Vdara and the Aria Resort and Casino.