Couture (Las Vegas)

Couture (Las Vegas)
Name	Couture
Location	Las Vegas Strip, Paradise, Nevada, United States
Status	Proposed/Cancelled
Developer	Steve Witkoff / Witkoff Group
Architect	Foster + Partners
Building type	Hotel, Casino, Residential
Floor count	Proposed 63
Opening date	Proposed 2017 (not completed)

Couture (Las Vegas) was a proposed mixed-use tower planned for the Las Vegas Strip by developer Stephen M. Ross-associate Steve Witkoff's Witkoff Group with design by Foster and Partners. Announced amid redevelopment interest on the Las Vegas Strip, the project intended to combine high-end condominium residences, a boutique casino, luxury hotel accommodations, and retail, positioned to compete with existing properties such as Wynn Las Vegas, The Venetian Las Vegas, Bellagio, and Caesars Palace. The proposal attracted attention from investors, city officials, and competitors including MGM Resorts International, Las Vegas Sands Corporation, and Boyd Gaming Corporation, but encountered financing, regulatory, and market challenges similar to other Strip-era proposals like The Drew Las Vegas, Echelon Place, and Fontainebleau Las Vegas.

History

The site involved parcels formerly associated with Sahara Hotel and Casino and areas near the Las Vegas Convention Center and Fontainebleau Resort Las Vegas development corridors. Early promotion drew comparisons to projects by Steve Wynn, Sheldon Adelson, and Kirk Kerkorian's MGM Grand legacy. Initial planning phases saw interactions with the Clark County Commission, City of Las Vegas Planning Commission, and stakeholders including Nevada Gaming Control Board and Nevada Gaming Commission. Market timing intersected with the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and recovery periods led by entities like MGM Resorts International with projects including CityCenter, developed with partners Dubai World and Meliá Hotels International-linked investors. The project timeline paralleled other high-profile developments such as Resorts World Las Vegas by Genting Group and the stalled Alon Las Vegas proposal by Alon Development Group. Zoning negotiations involved representatives from Clark County Department of Building and Fire Prevention and neighborhood planning groups influenced by Las Vegas Review-Journal and The Wall Street Journal coverage.

Design and Architecture

Design concepts were attributed to Norman Foster's firm Foster and Partners, whose portfolio includes The Gherkin, Millau Viaduct, and collaborations with Apple Inc. for flagship stores. The tower proposal featured a contemporary glass façade reminiscent of projects by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Kohn Pedersen Fox, with interior visions recalling luxury standards set by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, and boutique elements from W Hoboken-style hospitality. Landscape and public realm planning referenced influences from OMA and Zaha Hadid Architects precedent for urban integration, drawing comparisons to mixed-use exemplars like One57 in New York by Extell Development Company and residential-luxury towers such as 432 Park Avenue by CIM Group. Structural engineering considerations invoked practices from firms like Arup and AECOM given proximity to the Las Vegas Strip entertainment corridor and events hosted at venues like Allegiant Stadium and T-Mobile Arena.

Location and Accessibility

The site was proposed along the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, adjacent to major nodes including Las Vegas Boulevard, Wynn Boulevard, and the Las Vegas Monorail route with connections toward the Las Vegas Convention Center Loop and pedestrian access to attractions such as Fremont Street Experience via transit links. Proximity to Harry Reid International Airport (formerly McCarran International Airport) and planned improvements tied to the Brightline West high-speed rail concept influenced accessibility assumptions. Surface and multimodal transit considerations involved RTC of Southern Nevada bus corridors, taxi and rideshare staging used by companies like Uber and Lyft, and existing valet and parking operations typical of Caesars Entertainment properties.

Amenities and Facilities

Planned amenities combined residential concierge services like those at The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas with casino operations similar to The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, luxury retail comparable to The Shops at Crystals, and resort-style pools akin to MGM Grand Garden Arena-adjacent offerings. Spa and wellness programs followed models from Canyon Ranch, fine dining concepts nodding to celebrity chef restaurants by Gordon Ramsay, Joël Robuchon, and Bobby Flay, and entertainment venues intended to host acts like those historically booked at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace and Park Theater. Meeting and ballroom spaces were planned to capture conventions and events overflow from the Las Vegas Convention Center and conferences similar to CES and defcon-era tech gatherings.

Construction and Development

The development financing phase involved negotiations with institutional lenders, private equity firms, and potential partners such as Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and international investors akin to Melco Resorts & Entertainment backers. Construction timelines referenced complex permitting processes overseen by Clark County Department of Building and Fire Prevention and required coordination with utility providers including NV Energy and Southern Nevada Water Authority. The project faced headwinds similar to those that impacted Fontainebleau Las Vegas and Echelon Place, including capital markets shifts prompted by broader economic factors like policies from the Federal Reserve and global investor sentiment tied to events such as the European sovereign debt crisis. Contractor relationships would have paralleled major Las Vegas builds involving firms like Moss Construction and Turner Construction Company.

Reception and Impact

Public and industry reaction included commentary from media outlets such as Las Vegas Review-Journal, The New York Times, and Bloomberg News, with analysts from firms like CBRE Group and JLL weighing potential market impact relative to inventory supplied by Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts International. Urban planners referenced effects on tourism patterns historically shaped by developments like The Mirage by Steve Wynn and integrated projects such as CityCenter by MGM Resorts International and partners. Potential economic outcomes were compared to job and tax impacts from major events at venues like Las Vegas Convention Center and sports-driven demand from teams such as the Las Vegas Raiders and entertainment contracts with performers associated with Residency (entertainment). Opposition and advocacy voices included preservation groups and development proponents engaged in Las Vegas civic debates, echoing disputes seen during projects like The Summit and Plaza Hotel redevelopment efforts.

Category:Unbuilt buildings and structures in the United States Category:Proposed skyscrapers in the United States Category:Las Vegas Strip