The heart of the attraction is an ambitious barrel vault canopy that functions as theme architecture and giant shade structure. It is 90 feet high at the peak, and covers four blocks, or approximately 1,500 linear feet. The underside of the canopy is covered with an LED display, referred to as "Viva Vision," which is programmed to show sound-and-light presentations after dark. The mall has pedestrian-only traffic with access to all businesses, casinos, and restaurants along the four-block stretch of vendors and kiosks that occupy the center where the old vehicle-use road used to be.

The Fremont Street Experience also calls for landscaping and patterned paving. Street performers entertain patrons enjoying sidewalk cafes or viewing goods on festive pushcarts and kiosks. Enhanced security and cleaning will help contribute to a safe, enjoyable visit.

The reinvigorated place has also become a center for festivals, holiday celebrations and live entertainment.

Juvenile barrel cactus (native to the region, center) complement Middle Eastern dactilifera palms. Ocotillo and red yucca are the mid-sized plants in this view.

Fremont Street History

Fremont Street was closed to vehicle traffic Sept. 7, 1994. On Sept. 8, state and city officials, prominent Las Vegans and members of the Fremont Street Experience project participated in a "cruise through history," in a line-up of classic cars from the Nevada Car Club Council that made the last drive down Fremont Street to celebrate the next step in the evolution of ?EUR??,,????'?????<

From the modest beginnings of Las Vegas, Fremont Street initially was in the forefront of the gambling industry. It was Las Vegas?EUR??,,????'?????<

Patterns of colored concrete create a spiral design along the Third Street pedestrian mall as it heads towards covered Fremont Street. (The same pattern repeats along Fremont Street and neighboring pedestrian malls.) The tree at upper right is an acacia; the pruned tree beneath it is an Arizona ash.

The Apache Hotel on Fremont Street in 1932 was the first Las Vegas resort to have an elevator. The Horseshoe was the first casino to install carpet. And the first gaming license was issued to a downtown Fremont Street gambling hall.

Downtown Las Vegas already had 36 years of history by the time the El Rancho Vegas became the first hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip in 1941.

A pedestrian connector meanders along a grove of Phoenix dactilifera. Melding into the xeriscape plantings are desert-native ocotillo (left of the light pole) and Muhlenbergia rigens in the foreground. The granite rockscape is kept two-inches below curbs and sidewalks to keep it in place.

The Site Challenge

As with the downtown entry corridor, in order to calm traffic flow, the center turn lane was replaced by a landscaped median with large palm trees and flowering shrubs along the entire 2.5-mile length.

The lack of vegetation and the desirable screening meant that, at first, people called for views and vistas to be preserved and maintained for historic purposes. But, as in many cities, undesirable views and vistas also existed.

The design team created a boulevard effect with trees combined with lower plantings, softening the hardscape of concrete, asphalt and buildings in daylight hours while creating a tropical/resort effect with uplighting enhancing the nighttime entertainment district skyline and neon signage.

Desert spoon (Dasylirion arcotriche), foreground, is another drought-tolerant plant that is well-used throughout median areas. Close to 150 dactilifera palms were used along the 2.5-mile project area. (Also note the alternating bands of rose-colored and golden-yellow decomposed granite.)

A bosque of palms fill the median where the World Famous ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Providing pedestrian access crossing Las Vegas Boulevard was a challenge. The pedestrian access included both pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Large sweeping walks with minimum radii of 70 feet were incorporated, easing the flow connecting one amenity to another. Sharp turns and short radii were avoided, creating a calming effect for visitors.

Typical of downtown or urban environments, we were also challenged with views from adjacent hi-rise hotels, casinos and office buildings. Geometric groundplane graphics were incorporated through the use of decomposed granite with steel edging repeating the forms used in the planting design.

Another view shows planting details on the walk towards the covered Fremont Street Experience. The xeriscape-proven plants survive nicely on sparse seasonal rainfall. The palms get a small boost from a drip system (Rain Bird) and other components.

Elements of Design

Extensive ground-mounted accent landscape lighting was incorporated to enhance the project?EUR??,,????'?????<

Desert-adapted plant materials were incorporated such as the barrel cactus and desert spoon. The desert spoon (Dasylirion arcotriche) is kept pruned up, showing the attractive base repeating similar colors and textures of the palm trees. Red yucca is also incorporated providing accent with its red spike flowers.

This angle takes in decades of development as it looks from downtown to the well-known Stratosphere hotel and resort. Well-trimmed shrubs at the trees?EUR??,,????'?????<Leucophyllum) and yellow-blooming damantia (Chrysactina mexicana).

Ocotillo shrubs, with their thorny stems and terminal flowers prevent pedestrians from crossing through the medians and help keep the vegetation from being trampled. Boulders of varying sizes and textures are spotted throughout the corridor adding vertical hardscape color and texture.

Decomposed granite, a commonly-used groundcover in the Las Vegas Valley, covers the median floor in various sieve sizes and colors. The use of ground-plane graphics throughout the hardscape is a necessity due to the region?EUR??,,????'?????<

A view down Las Vegas Blvd. towards the new Wynn Hotel and Casino shows how the palms in the median add interest with varied textures. The thicker trunks are pineapple-top Canary Island date palms. The textured, mottled trunks are Phoenix dactilifera. Washingtonia, with their frond-topped trunks, round out the mix.

Along Third Street at the Fremont Street Experience, specialty paving was designed incorporating graphics that are repeated throughout the outdoor mall. Arched and colored bands lead pedestrians through the entertainment district. Colored swirls accent corners identifying amenities for Downtown visitors.

Landscape planters line the mall softening the hard edges of buildings and aiding with pollution control. Trash receptacles have been installed more often than most public spaces?EUR??,,????'?????<

Date palms were placed in groupings that allow one uplight to illuminate multiple trees. Standard "cobra head" street lamps were specified to illuminate street and pedestrian areas.

As in most areas of Las Vegas, the design team had to contend with signage. Signs appear almost everywhere you turn. Designing in and around them became very challenging. The design team opted, in many cases, to incorporate them into the design. Specialty signs, such as historic neon signs, were strategically located and design elements were used to highlight or emphasize them. Other signage was used, such as banners, directional signage and information signs and kiosks.

Irrigation was installed at the time of construction. Typically, in the Las Vegas Valley, drip irrigation is specified, providing greater water control and conservation. The Las Vegas Valley Water District has set forth excellent guidelines for the designer to follow as well as the homeowner to live and plant by. Through these guidelines, minimal plant loss was experienced in both areas.

A view from inside covered Fremont Street shows the U-shaped roof with constantly-changing images projected onto it during nighttime hours.

Work will continue for some time along Fremont Street, Las Vegas Boulevard and side streets, further enhancing the user experience.

For more information on the Freemont Street Experience and Downtown Entry Corridor please visit www.visitlasvegas.com