Crystals at CityCenter, Las Vegas Achieves LEED Gold Certification

Crystals is World’s Largest LEED Gold Certified Retail District

LAS VEGAS, Nev — Crystals, the retail and entertainment district at CityCenter, has achieved LEED+ Gold Core & Shell certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), making it the world’s largest retail district to receive this level of recognition. Opening in December, CityCenter was created with a vision to introduce a new level of environmental consciousness to the world-famous Strip and has emerged as a leader in sustainable urban development. Crystals’ achievement marks the fourth LEED Gold certification for CityCenter; previous recipients included 1. ARIA Resort’s hotel tower, 2. ARIA’s convention center and theater, and 3. Vdara Hotel & Spa. CityCenter is poised to achieve a combination of LEED Gold and Silver ratings throughout its remaining hotels, residences, dining and public spaces.

Under the LEED for Core & Shell rating system, USGBC evaluated the entire district with the exception of the tenants’ interior spaces. This enables tenants to capitalize on green strategies implemented throughout Crystals, including energy and water efficiencies, enhanced indoor air quality, sustainable building materials and an abundance of natural light.

“From CityCenter’s inception, we aimed to create a vibrant destination to demonstrate that a community can be both beautiful and sustainable for today and for future generations,” said Cindy Ortega, MGM MIRAGE’s senior vice president of Energy and Environmental Services. “As we celebrate Crystals’ achievement, along with the recent Gold certification of ARIA and Vdara, we’re a step closer to introducing this transformative development to Las Vegas, and welcoming our guests to an environment designed with their health and well-being in mind.”

Crystals’ sustainable highlights:

* Radiant floor cooling will use less energy for air conditioning by chilling the air specifically in occupied areas rather than cooling the entire space
* The majority of all wood products used in Crystals are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, meaning the wood is produced from forests with sustainable management practices in place
* Annually, Crystals will save an estimated 1.8 million gallons of water within the building through efficient water fixtures. This equates to a savings of nearly 38 percent over existing building codes
* Skylights will allow for abundant natural light to illuminate the space
* Guests arriving with alternative fuel vehicles will have access to preferred parking
* More information on CityCenter’s green initiatives can be found at http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/mgm/39529/

S. Richard Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair, USGBC, said, “From its intense focus on water conservation to the multiple strategies for energy efficiency, the CityCenter team has delivered several exceptional properties that qualify for the LEED Gold rating. Extreme climates challenge the most creative of project teams, and the CityCenter team has risen to the occasion and then some. We congratulate them on their significant achievement.”

Crystals’ multi-faceted exterior was designed by Studio Daniel Libeskind*; the brilliant glass canopy depicts the detailed beauty of a quartz crystal, welcoming an abundance of natural light into the three-level experiential environment. Crystals’ interior was designed by David Rockwell and Rockwell Group, creating a 21st century park that will celebrate nature and the seasons, and feature “changeable artwork” such as abstract hanging gardens, a lush flower carpet and more.

Large-format luxury retailers that will establish Crystals as a preeminent international shopping destination include Louis Vuitton, Prada, TIFFANY & CO., Ermenegildo Zegna, Roberto Cavalli, Christian Dior, Versace, Bulgari, Cartier, Hermes, Bally, Van Cleef & Arpels, Mikimoto, Emilio Pucci and ILORI. Unique-to-the-market retailers opening their first locations in Las Vegas include Tom Ford, Carolina Herrera, Miu Miu, Paul Smith, Kiton, Marni, Assouline, H. Stern, Tourbillon, Porsche Design and de Grisogono.

Visitors to Crystals also will enjoy Eva Longoria Parker’s first Las Vegas restaurant, BESO; two dynamic new dining concepts from internationally renowned master chef Wolfgang Puck; an exciting new pub concept by Todd English; and Mastro’s Ocean Club.

CityCenter’s LEED certification effort was lead by MGM MIRAGE’s Energy and Environmental Services division along with a recognized group of sustainability consultants including CTG Energetics, Green Building Services, Viridian Energy & Environmental, Fore Solutions and Simon & Associates.

About CityCenter
CityCenter is an unprecedented urban metropolis opening in December 2009 on 67 acres between Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. CityCenter is a joint venture between MGM MIRAGE (NYSE: MGM) and Infinity World Development Corp, a subsidiary of Dubai World. CityCenter will feature ARIA, a 61-story, 4,004-room gaming resort; luxury non-gaming hotels including Las Vegas’ first Mandarin Oriental and Vdara Hotel & Spa; Veer Towers, the development’s only strictly residential buildings; and Crystals, a 500,000-square-foot retail and entertainment district. Vdara, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas and Veer Towers will include approximately 2,400 residences total. Additionally, The Harmon, a 400-room luxury boutique hotel, is slated to open at CityCenter in late 2010. CityCenter also will feature a resident Cirque du Soleil production celebrating the timeless musical legacy of Elvis Presley; and an unparalleled Fine Art Collection with works by acclaimed artists including Maya Lin, Jenny Holzer, Nancy Rubins, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, among others. CityCenter is a design collaboration between MGM MIRAGE and eight internationally acclaimed architectural firms including Pelli Clarke Pelli, Kohn Pedersen Fox, Helmut Jahn, RV Architecture LLC led by Rafael Vinoly, Foster + Partners*, Studio Daniel Libeskind*, Rockwell Group and Gensler. At the forefront of sustainability, CityCenter will be one of the world’s largest green developments. ARIA and Vdara are the first Las Vegas hotels to achieve LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. CityCenter’s remaining venues are poised to receive a combination of LEED Silver and Gold ratings. For more information about CityCenter, please visit www.citycenter.com.

+ The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings. The ‘LEED Certification Mark’ is a registered trademark owned by the U.S. Green Building Council and is used by permission.

* As a consultant to AAI Architects, Inc.