Las Vegas is known for many things, but beautiful green parks have not been one of them. Now, the design firm !melk is working to change that image. On April 14, !melk’s founding principal, Jerry Van Eyck, is coming to Colorado State University to speak to students, faculty, staff, and the Fort Collins community about how his firm is transforming the Las Vegas Strip. Van Eyck’s talk will be part of CSU’s annual Landscape Architecture series, LA Days, which will run from April 11-14.
!melk’s work on the strip will take place in phases beginning with the renovation of two hotel facades, the surrounding public spaces, and the first park on the Las Vegas Strip, set to open in 2016. Part of the project’s focus is to create more pedestrian-friendly spaces which will feature retail shopping, sidewalk cafes, and shade from the sun which can be an imposing force on the strip. The design will integrate native desert trees that provide shade with water features that use 10 percent less water than used currently and planted areas irrigated with reclaimed water from surrounding hotels.
Van Eyck will be joined at LA Days by other industry leaders who will be featured during the series.
LA Days speakers
Laura Solano – principal, MVVA in Cambridge, MA; widely regarded as an expert in the field of landscape technology and sustainability (April 11)
David Rubin – founding principal, LAND COLLECTIVE, Philadelphia, PA; known for fusing issues of social justice in cities with excellence in the design of public spaces and recipient of the 2011-2012 Rome Prize in Landscape Architecture from the American Academy in Rome (April 12)
Lucinda Sanders – CEO/partner, OLIN, Philadelphia, PA; lead the design of many of OLIN’s signature projects, including Comcast Center Plaza, Central Delaware Riverfront Master Plan in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Gap Headquarters in San Francisco, California; and Fountain Square in Cincinnati, Ohio (April 13)
“We are once again delighted to have an outstanding line up of guest speakers for LA Days this year,” said Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture Kelly Curl, who is the faculty advisor for the CSU Student Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. “These renowned landscape architects provide inspiration to our students and continue to share their professional experiences and outstanding built works.”
About LA Days
The LA Days lectures will be held each evening from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm in Chemistry A 103 and are open to the public. The series has run for 23 years and has featured other prominent speakers including Peter Walker and Laurie Olin. For more information visit the website.
