Source: http://www.arabianbusiness.com, August 27, 2013
A judge in the US has granted permission for Dubai World, the investment arm of the Dubai government, to demolish the half-built Harmon Hotel tower of the CityCenter Las Vegas development, it was reported.
The Harmon Hotel tower, co-owned by MGM Resorts International, was designed as a 48-storey component of the AED31.2bn ($8.5bn) CityCenter project, which opened in December 2009.
However, inspectors found flaws in the steel reinforcements used in the concrete structure, and tower construction was halted at 26 floors in 2007.
CityCenter’s consultants claimed the building was at risk of collapsing if a strong earthquake occurred.
Clark County District Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez approved CityCenter’s motion to demolish the tower. CityCenter officials said they would immediately start planning for the demolition, which could happen within a year.
Developers are now embroiled in a lawsuit with the tower’s builder, Tutor Perini Building Company, over who’s responsible for some $400 million in damages. A trial date for the hearing has been set for February 2014.
Permission was first granted for demolition last year but later revoked when the judge questioned the methodology of structural testing on the tower.
The empty Harmon Hotel building, designed by Foster + Partners as a non-gaming boutique hotel, stands at the entrance of the 67-acre master-planned CityCenter development, which features several hotels, condominiums, a casino and an upscale shopping and restaurant complex.