When designing T-Mobile Arena, an entertainment venue that caters to Vegas residents and tourists alike, Populous sought inspiration not from far-away locale but in the surrounding environment. The hospitality and entertainment destination stays true to the flash and glamour of The Strip while also taking organic design cues from the mountains and desert canyon surrounding it.

To project this authentic spirit of Las Vegas through the exterior, the design includes an expansive glass façade complete with LED overlay; sweeping, dramatic balconies; an exterior performance stage and a sleek material palette that is as bold as it is sophisticated. This mixture of elements creates a visually captivating and iconic focal point in Las Vegas’ bustling entertainment market. Desert and mountain influences are expressed in the south and west facades of the arena – a solid skin that protects against the intense desert sun. This “of the desert” skin wraps the arena’s elliptical form with undulating bands of metal that evoke the color and sedimentary layering of the desert mountains.

Interior spaces within replicate the sedimentary layering visible on the exterior, with the lowest level premium spaces and concourse inspired by the strata of the mountains and premium spaces in the upper levels reflecting the oranges, blues and purples of Las Vegas’ dusk sky. The arena also makes use of a new arrangement of the seating bowl, to allow for maximum seating capacity when set up for concerts. Two dramatic sponsor towers provide unique vantage points and showcase the glamour, energy and ‘see and be seen’ nature of the city, creating a premium experience that will be a bold statement for Las Vegas.