Nextel Central

Manufacturer's Showroom
First Place
Gensler of Nevada, Las Vegas

Designed as both a transit station along the Las Vegas Monorail route and a showcase for the wireless brand's integrated services, the 15,000-square-foot Nextel Central offers a little something for everyone. A unifying architectural feature – the Ribbon – snakes through the space and integrates five distinct areas: the entry lobby and welcome desk, the Center of Excellence and wireless VIP lounge, the concierge and business solutions center, exhibition space and a retail store. A swooping ceiling, theatrical lighting and video technology add to the space's experiential feel. Here, travelers can view Nextel's services and products at 3-D interactive video displays, check e-mail in the wireless lounge, or enjoy views of the Las Vegas Strip on the open-air balcony.

Client: Nextel Telecommunications, Reston, Va.
Miguel Lecuona

Design/Architect: Gensler of Nevada, Las Vegas
Marty Borko, project principal
J.F. Finn, project director
Carolina Tombolesi, project manager
Irwin Miller, project designer
Christian Daniels, graphic designer
Banning Rowles, brand and exhibit designer
Hector Ayala, project architect
James Jones, architect
Hui-Ling Hsieh, project interior designer
Darlene Urgola, architecture designer

General Contractor: Marnell Corrao Associates, Las Vegas

Outside Design Consultants: Edwards Technologies Inc., Los Angeles
Mindshare, New York
Syska Hennessey Group Inc., Las Vegas
REZN 8, Los Angeles
Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design, Los Angeles
Brand Architecture Intl., New York
Southland Industries, Las Vegas
Rees Masilionis Turley Architecture, Kansas City, Mo.
Rolf Jensen & Associates, Las Vegas

Suppliers: Newmant Ceilings, Huntington, N.Y.
Color Kinetics, Boston
Valley Lighting, Linthicum, Md.
Knoll Industries, Santa Monica, Calif.
Alexander Mfg. Inc., Portland, Ore.
Yesco, Las Vegas
Wisconsin Built, Deerfield, Wis.
Translite Sonoma, Sonoma, Calif.
Shaw Carpet, Cypress, Calif.
Martin Brattrud, Gardena, Calif.
Aheinaman Contract Glazing, Las Vegas
ICF Group, Santa Monica, Calif.
Daktronics Inc., San Diego

Photography: Eric Laignel, New York