Union Park

The city of Las Vegas is currently developing Union Park , a 61-acre mixed-use urban community located in the heart of downtown Las Vegas. The Union Park project is being master planned by the city of Las Vegas and Newland Communities. This new development is home to some of Las Vegas’ largest economic, cultural, and civic projects, including Symphony Park , the two-acre open space core of Union Park.

The master plan for Union Park identifies five distinct districts , organized in a series of small urban blocks with pedestrian-friendly accessibility. The five districts are: the Civic District (includes The Smith Center for the Performing Arts and Symphony Park), the Specialty District (plans for a wide range of hospitality, specialty retail, a hotel/casino), the Residential District (true urban neighborhoods with a mix of high-rise, town homes, live/work condominiums and mid- and low-rise residences), the Retail District (featuring street-facing retail and restaurants throughout the community), and the Medical Office District (anchored by the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute with other office and clinic space). 

The Las Vegas City Council has authorized $40 million in funding for the first phase of infrastructure in Union Park. In addition, the council approved development agreements for two key anchors of this community: The Smith Center for the Performing Arts  and Keep Memory Alive, the Foundation for the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute . The city also donated the 4.77-acre site for The Smith Center, a planned multi-theatre complex with a main theatre seating more than 2,000 audience members. The center will offer a blend of performances by local arts groups as well as first-run touring attractions.   It will feature music, theatre and dance companies from all over the world, and will be home to the Las Vegas Philharmonic and Nevada Ballet Theatre. Upon completion, this facility will be the first regional performing arts center in the Las Vegas Valley. Currently under construction, the Frank Gehry-designed building of the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute is fast becoming a landmark for Las Vegas and Union Park. The institute is dedicated to the conquest of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s.

Also planned for Union Park is the World Jewelry Center . Currently scheduled for a groundbreaking in 2009, the Center features corporate office condominiums of domestic and international gem and jewelry companies in an iconic 50+ story state-of-the-art trade tower. The tower will be adjacent to a free standing gallery of retail jewelry stores with broad market appeal. The project will offer exhibition space, exclusive whole-ownership residential condominiums and a Foreign Trade Zone. The World Jewelry Center will be an all-encompassing global business resource for both gem and jewelry professionals and the consuming public.

The Charlie Palmer , a 400-suite and room boutique hotel, will feature an expansive spa, a Hollywood-style pool, and a signature Charlie Palmer restaurant as well as other alfresco dining.

The estimated project value of Union Park is $6 billion and the site will encompass an estimated 10-11 million square feet. The diverse mixed-use plan’s current programming projects the following components and uses: 

• Office/Medical: 1.9 million square feet
• Residential: 3,200 residential units
• Non-gaming Hotels (two): 675,000 square feet and 650 – 800  keys
• Gaming Hotel (one): 900,000+ square feet and 1,000 – 1,500 keys
• Casino: 60,000-100,000 square feet
• Retail: 475,000 square feet

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Going Green

Union Park is “going green.”  Formerly designated a “brownfield” area due to spilled fuel and other hazardous debris, the Union Park development is starting life anew as a “green” mixed-used development in downtown Las Vegas. The city-owned development has been accepted into a pilot program that officials assert will lead to the development of more environmentally-friendly construction and buildings. Union Park will be the first project in Nevada accepted as part of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Neighborhood Development program. The program evaluates projects on criteria such as neighborhood designs, “green” construction and energy conservation.

Union Park’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development

For additional information, please refer to the following:
Union Park Business Plan [46.3 MB]
Union Park Design Guidelines [26.9 MB]
Union Park Media Kit 

For development opportunities, please contact Rita Brandin with Newland Communities at rbrandin@newlandcommunities.com or (702) 220-8090.

More information is available on the new Union Park Web site.