Las Vegas is unlike any other city in America. A popular destination for concertgoers, poker players and bachelor parties alike, the sheer scale of entertainment and attraction is unparalleled, especially along the Vegas Strip. This hub of culture arises from a desolate desert and is silhouetted by a majestic expanse of mountain ranges, strengthening the city’s mystique and allure. For architects and construction companies, erecting a new building in Vegas that can stand out from the crowd based upon its own merit is a momentous undertaking – one that held true for the new T-Mobile Arena. Luckily, AEG and MGM Resorts International, the design teams responsible for constructing the joint venture entertainment complex, were prepared to make a mark.

Led by the architecture team from Populous, designs for a cutting-edge, $375-million indoor arena began in 2014. Designed with ambitions to one day host professional hockey and welcome more than 100 annual events, final plans for T-Mobile Arena called for a 650,000 square-foot structure situated on a 16-acre site, featuring 20,000 seats, 44 luxury suites, four expansive balconies – including one designed specifically for performances – an 85 foot tall glass atrium and more. This is the largest arena Las Vegas has ever built, yet the most ambitious feature of the project is the exterior.