As one of the newest themed destination resorts on the Las Vegas Strip, the New York New York Hotel and Casino combines the glitz and glamour of the Big Apple-- and showcases the well-known elements of New York City, New York. This eighteen-acre resort includes a scaled replica of the Statue of Liberty (two-thirds the size of the original); a scaled Brooklyn Bridge; a high-rise hotel tower designed to look like different buildings in the city; and low-rise facades in front of the casino to represent various areas of the city, such as residential streets, the opera house, and the United Nations Building Districts.

Working with the General Contractor-- Marnell Corrao Associates-- Landscape Architects at the Las Vegas office of Cella Barr Associates (CBA) designed the intricate hardscape, site amenities, water features, swimming pool and spas, landscape plantings and irrigation for this project. From offices in Tucson, Phoenix, Sacramento and Las Vegas, CBA has been involved in projects in the Las Vegas Metropolitan area since 1993. The multidisciplinary firm provides Landscape Architecture, civil engineering, transportation planning, and design services throughout the southwest. Landscape Architecture and Planning Manager Cary K. Baird, ASLA, explains, "With Southern Nevada's tax climate, recreational opportunities, weather and gaming, the strong 'wave' that exists is certainly not predicted to disappear in the near future."

Guided by Principal-in-Charge, Charles Saladino, ASLA, the landscape team created individual plazas linked together along the low-rise-- creating a different New York scene for each facade; a combination of various paving materials were used, ranging from imported slate to textured concrete impressions along the entire length of the hotel. Challenged to simulate other materials using concrete for long term use and wear, the landscape design team re-created a paved-over effect on the Brooklyn Bridge surface to stimulate a cobblestone surface partially paved over with asphalt.

Along the entire length of the plaza, the Landscape Architects re-created a river waterfront similar to the one in the city near the Brooklyn Bridge. They designed custom wooden piers out of concrete, multi-leveled landscape planters that spilled into the water feature in three areas, and custom designed metal fencing, ranging in heights from twelve to forty-two inches.

As with any resort on the Strip, the clients desired year-round greenery. The challenge for the designers was to select and specify plant material similar to that of New York City, but that would remain green in Nevada's desert environment. The team installed over 160 seventy-two-inch boxed oaks and pines, with a few deciduous trees as accents to provide some seasonal variations and still give the appearance the owners wanted to see. They used climate-adapted plant material to resemble some plants seen in the city, yet introduced a percentage of evergreen plant materials to provide year round enjoyment to patrons who visit the hotel.

Evergreens like Sycamores, Liquidambars, Pistache, Pears and Crape Myrtles were used for seasonal color and flower. A combination of turfgrasses, seasonal color, groundcovers and shrubs were used at different heights to create dramatic, layered effects throughout the landscape.

Water conservation was a strong priority for the resort design team. Notably, this project is the first in Las Vegas where the firm worked with the Water District to prepare water use calculations of the landscape. With Las Vegas leaning toward tighter controls of landscape water use, the firm's efforts with the Water District to minimize turf use and use water-efficient plant materials on drip irrigation will allow the District to use this project as a case study to market for future development controls. Irrigation Consultants at Aqua Engineering helped CBA design a central computer irrigation system and an intricate fertilizer injection system.

Sunbathers may capitalize on the desert's warm sunshine with views of water streams from elevated spas; the elevation changes enhance the visual experience of the pool areas. A multi-level spa grouping, complete with streams and falls, enhances the dramatic experience. The water feature is surrounded with flowers in a planter designed with a slope to maximize the ground plane view of the flowers viewed from different directions. Low fencing was added to protect the plants from public access.

Evergreen trees towering over the spas help define the ceiling, and provide some privacy from tower hotel rooms. Lower story plant material, including Indian Hawthorn and Euonymus varieties, soften the hard edges and complement the waterfalls and streams. Boulders, soft landscape plant materials, and running water effects soften edges and enhance the ground plane.

Along the streetscape scene, the plazas represent New York City's famed architectural facades, including hardscape seating areas, and decorative pavement of bomanite, slate, tile and colored concrete. The designers simulated a plaza experience using similar materials used on the building facade with the addition of narrow columnar trees flag poles with flags of nations and seating areas.

Flowers and shrubs including Liriope, Hawthorn and Pittosporum in multi-level planters were used along the boulevard. The team recreated an old New York style of paved over cobblestone on the bridge, giving the effect of asphalt worn away in places to expose the old cobble street. In addition, they recreated the Hudson River ship harbor edge theme by introducing GFRC pilings, ashlar stone edges, and rockwork. Additions include custom fencing adjacent to planters.

According to CBA, high-profile projects like the casinos along the Strip reveal to the public that Landscape Architecture isn't just the perception of planting trees and shrubs to complement a building. Intricate site enhancements including detailed, retaining walls, water features, and lighting define and complement the entire resort experience. Baird concludes, "Through careful site design and the introduction of different site elements to complement each other, the New York/New York particularly enhances the public's perception of what we do." lasn