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Luxury meeting and renowned architects and world-class designers redefine Downtown Detroit with $800-million luxury hotel and entertainment destination
10/2/2007
MGM Grand Detroit Shapes Downtown Landscape With Contemporary Architecture and Sophisticated Design
DETROIT – October 2, 2007 – An acclaimed group of architects and designers shared their vision and talents to develop the $800-million MGM Grand Detroit, an unparalleled luxury hotel and entertainment destination that redefines the landscape of Detroit's downtown area.
The overall concept and architectural plan for MGM Grand Detroit is a joint venture between Detroit-based Hamilton Anderson Associates and SmithGroup; and California-based Archavision. Several other prestigious firms also contributed their unique talents to the property. MGM Grand Detroit's esteemed list of design firms includes Laurence Lee Associates, SANDdesign*, tonychi and associates, SUPERPOTATO, Jeffrey Beers International, HARRIS DESIGN GROUP, Cleo Design, Réalisations.net and Design Solutions.
Designed with the city in mind, MGM Grand Detroit embodies a contemporary, sophisticated style of architecture that blends harmoniously into the established downtown community. Its dramatic style is accomplished with the use of contrasting elements including soaring vertical lines of metal and glass with a solid stone base. As guests arrive at MGM Grand Detroit, they are greeted by the Grand Garden, a botanical display that anchors the property at Third and Bagley. Designed by the imaginative artists renowned for holiday creations in Rockefeller Center and the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Las Vegas, the garden is a distinctive environment with dynamic lighting and flourishing plants and serves as a seasonal attraction for guests and the community. For its debut, autumn bursts into resplendent color as giant glass-fabricated leaves of oak, maple and chestnut cascade in translucent splendor among 50-foot Canadian white birch trees heralding the season's debut. Colossal Michigan-grown pumpkins weighing up to 1,200 pounds commemorate the seasonal holidays and complete the picturesque autumnal scene.
As guests walk through the doors they are welcomed by a series of intricate surprises. Artfully placed mosaic tile on the marble floor guides them forward to the reception desk where a dramatic alabaster wall provides a grand backdrop. To the left, the black and white mosaic pattern leads to the inviting "Living Room" with its wall-length fireplace and cozy seating, offering the perfect 'home away from home' for hotel guests. To the right, guests can explore the exciting collection of restaurants and lounges, revealing more expansive fireplaces, semi-private dining alcoves and private booths warmly lit by Edison light bulbs. Guest rooms and suites deliver a contemporary yet comfortable ambiance with rich hues and saturated colors that envelop guests in a sense of warmth and well-being. A spectacular spa inspired by water, nature's most calming element, transports guests to an oasis of relaxation.
Hamilton Anderson Associates and SmithGroup Joint Venture
Detroit-based architectural design firms Hamilton Anderson Associates and SmithGroup together were responsible for guiding the overall design of the property, including the building's exterior design and carefully planned landscape architecture. The team acknowledged the importance of MGM Grand Detroit to the downtown area, recognizing its potential to become a 'fourth anchor' joining Cobo Center, GM World Headquarters and Ford Field/Comerica Park as major destinations in the central business district. The joint venture has partnered most notably on the Detroit Lions' Ford Field.
Founded in Detroit in 1994, Hamilton Anderson Associates is a minority-owned firm whose artistry can be seen in projects such as the Detroit School of Arts High School, YouthVille child development center, Washington Boulevard Streetscape reconstruction and the historic Belle Isle Master Plan. With a reputation for excellence and a client roster that includes major local projects such as Detroit's Comerica Park and Northwest Airlines' Midfield Terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, SmithGroup's partnership with MGM Grand Detroit was ideal. Established in 1853, SmithGroup is the oldest practicing architecture firm in the United States.
Archavision International
Archavision International worked in collaboration with the Hamilton Anderson/SmithGroup joint venture for the overall architecture of MGM Grand Detroit. Additionally, the firm worked with Cleo Design on MGM Grand Detroit's gaming floor and center bar, U-ME-DRINK; and with HARRIS DESIGN on the creation of Breeze, the property's quick-service dining area. Archavision is known for its architectural and interior design services for the hospitality, gaming and entertainment industries. Completed projects for the Newport Beach, California company include Caesars Palace, Las Vegas; Atlantis Resort, Dubai; and Parkview Square, Singapore.
Laurence Lee Associates and SANDdesign*
Los Angeles-based Laurence Lee Associates and SANDdesign* partnered to design the hotel lobby and "Living Room," INT ICE lobby bar, the Grand Ballroom and meeting facilities, guests rooms and suites and the ultra-exclusive concierge lounge.
Laurence Lee Associates is renowned for luxury hotel design throughout the country. Notable projects include the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City; the Water Club Hotel & Spa in Atlantic City; and the Hard Rock Hotel & Casinos in Tampa and Hollywood, Florida.
SANDdesign's* high-level style has graced five-star luxury resorts and spas, fine-dining venues, boutique hotels and private residences throughout the United States and overseas. In addition to its work for MGM MIRAGE, the firm's client roster includes such respected hospitality brands as Hilton, Westin, Marriott, Sheraton and Hyatt.
tonychi and associates
At MGM Grand Detroit, internationally acclaimed Tony Chi and his team at tonychi and associates shared their visionary design talent for the creation of IMMERSE Spa, WOLFGANG PUCK GRILLE and SALTWATER by Michael Mina. IMMERSE is Chi's first spa in North America. With clients including such globally recognized names as Hyatt International, Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Hilton International and Four Seasons Hotel Group, Chi is a coveted designer who is renowned throughout the hospitality industry. Recognized for his devotion to impeccable style and innovation, Chi insists on a consistently fresh approach. As a result, tonychi and associates has an unrivaled reputation for design excellence and innovation in its specialty industries and beyond.
SUPERPOTATO
Specializing in hospitality and retail design, the international firm SUPERPOTATO led the creation of MGM Grand Detroit's BOURBON STEAK by Michael Mina, Palette Dining Studio, IGNITE and AGUA lounges and the premier poker room. Headquartered in Tokyo, SUPERPOTATO's reach extends throughout Asia, the United Kingdom and the United States with award-winning Takashi Sugimoto at the helm. SUPERPOTATO's esteemed project list includes Sensi at Bellagio and STRIPSTEAK at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas; the Shunju Restaurant, Japan; MUJI Lifestyle retail shops, Japan; multiple Hyatt locations including the Grand Hyatt Singapore, Park Hyatt Seoul and Hyatt Regency Kyoto; and the Shangri-La Hotels in Hong Kong and Kuala Lampur.
Jeffrey Beers International
Jeffrey Beers brings his creative talents home to Detroit with the creation of
V lounge, MGM Grand Detroit's signature nightlife destination. The Detroit native founded Jeffrey Beers International (JBI) in Manhattan in 1986 and has since positioned the firm among the industry's most inventive and accomplished studios worldwide. He is renowned for creating stunning environments that are sophisticated, glamorous and unique in the fusion of textures, customized furnishings and color palettes. With his international design team, Jeffrey Beers creates the ultimate guest experience in his extensive global hospitality portfolio. Prominent projects for JBI include Gold Key finalist The Cove Atlantis in the Bahamas; The Fontainebleau Resort in Miami; Echelon Resort in Las Vegas; New York City's Fiamma restaurant; London's FIFTY St. James; Hilton Tokyo Bay; Tabú Ultra Lounge at MGM Grand, Las Vegas; and Japonais restaurants in Las Vegas, New York and Chicago.
Cleo Design
With a stellar record for its work in resort and hotel-casinos, Cleo Design worked with Archavision to design the interior of the sophisticated casino at MGM Grand Detroit. Led by a design philosophy that emphasizes a high level of creativity and imagination with careful attention to detail, the team at Cleo Design has assisted in multiple design projects for MGM MIRAGE, including sections of Mandalay Bay, Luxor and MGM Grand in Las Vegas. With a collective 28 years experience between principals Ann Fleming and Ken Kulas, Cleo's combination of cutting-edge aesthetics and technical expertise made the firm an instant partner for MGM Grand Detroit.
HARRIS DESIGN GROUP
Since 1976, Detroit-based HARRIS DESIGN GROUP has gained broad recognition for modern design solutions and its commitment to transforming client needs into functional spaces. Within MGM Grand Detroit, the firm was charged with utilizing its superior design approach to create Breeze, the quick-service dining area; the contemporary video poker bar; and the executive offices. An African-American, female-owned enterprise, HARRIS DESIGN GROUP's esteemed client list includes General Motors Corporation, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the original Museum of African-American History and the landmark Book Cadillac Hotel Condominium Project.
Réalisations.net
Réalisations.net, headquartered in Montreal, Canada, is acclaimed for creating one-of-a-kind interactive design experiences for some of the world's hottest clubs, restaurants and hotels. Blending moving architecture and cinematic images with video content and soundscapes, Réalisations.net designed innovative features to enhance multiple venues at MGM Grand Detroit including U-ME-DRINK, IGNITE, AGUA and V lounges.
Roger Parent, founder of the company, brings ideas to life by creating meaningful entertainment and unique settings through architectural design elements, exhibitions and theatrical projects that transform a space into a state of mind. Realisations.net leads the industry in creating interactive environments that entertain and engage guests on every level. His creations at Tabú Ultra Lounge inside MGM Grand Las Vegas set the precedent for the use of moving architecture and scenographic imagery throughout the nightlife industry and earned the distinction as one of Club System International's "100 Moments That Changed the Club World" and a TIME magazine cover story.
Design Solutions
Dallas-based Design Solutions is known for its holiday displays of monumental proportions. Notable creations include the 14-foot-tall cadets for Rockefeller Center in New York; an 18-foot God of Prosperity and 45-foot-tall traditional Chinese pagoda for the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens annual Chinese New Year celebration; and three 33-foot wreaths for Union Station in Washington, D.C., which have become holiday landmarks in the nation's capitol. Design Solutions combines style, imagination and advanced technology to produce first-class holiday décor for major world headquarters including American Express, Sony, AT&T, Exxon-Mobil, Coca-Cola and the Trump Organization.
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For more information regarding MGM Grand Detroit or this release, contact:
Angela Spencer Ford, GlobalHue
248.331.1147
Lynor Pereira, GlobalHue
248.223.8992