Architect Paul Steelman says Las Vegas resorts need attractions beyond gambling as his firm rebuilds Mount Charleston Lodge

What happened

Paul Steelman, the Las Vegas-based architect whose firm has designed casinos and resorts around the world, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the future of the city's resorts is less about gambling and more about a mix of experiences. The 71-year-old spoke with the newspaper in a late-summer interview.

According to the Review-Journal, Steelman started his career in Atlantic City working with architect Joel Bergman and Steve Wynn before founding his own firm in 1987. His projects include the Golden Nugget, The Mirage, Casino de Monte-Carlo, Resorts World Las Vegas and Circa. Steelman Partners says it has designed more than 4,000 projects worldwide.

Why resorts are shifting beyond the casino floor

The Review-Journal reported that properties competing for visitors are increasingly designed around pools, restaurants, sports, entertainment, digital attractions and outdoor spaces. Suzanne Steelman Taylor, his daughter and the firm's vice president of strategy, tied the shift to changing expectations among younger visitors.

"The younger generations aren't gaming as much, so we're bringing in a lot more attractions," Steelman Taylor told the newspaper.

The attraction as identity

Steelman said an attraction should become part of a resort's identity, which he calls the "shiny object." He pointed to Stadium Swim at Circa, a year-round pool complex that he said draws between 3 and 4 million visitors a year, including people not staying at the hotel.

He also described Circa's sportsbook as intentionally designed to be featured. Steelman recalled warning owner Derek Stevens it could be a waste of money, and said Stevens compared the energy to a "Beyoncé concert, 84 nights a year."

Costs and competition

Steelman told the Review-Journal that construction costs have risen substantially, but that luxury is not the main expense. He estimated that 80 percent to 85 percent of a project's cost comes from structural steel, concrete, mechanical, electrical and low-voltage systems. The newspaper noted that this leaves developers weighing what they can build that generates enough demand to justify the investment.

Steelman said the Las Vegas experience has to be diversified. "And it can't be diversified by just copying the last guy," he told the newspaper.

Design trends in Las Vegas architecture

Steelman described a move away from the casino "black boxes" of earlier decades toward resorts with natural light, gardens and outdoor spaces. "We're trying to blur the differences between the inside and the outside," he told the newspaper.

Steelman Taylor said nostalgia is currently popular and that a classic building style can have more staying power than one shaped like a specific object. Some clients still want distinctive, expressive buildings, she said.

Concern over disappearing signs

Steelman said he is concerned that the city's traditional signs are being lost. He told the Review-Journal that giant LED displays can make the Strip visually confusing, while older signs gave properties a distinct identity. He also said Las Vegas must remain a walking city, with landscaping and public spaces that create a sequence of experiences. More coverage of local projects is on our development page.

Mount Charleston Lodge rebuild

Away from the Strip, Steelman Partners is redesigning the Mount Charleston Lodge, which is owned by Ellis Island hotel-casino operator Gary Ellis and was destroyed by fire in 2021. Steelman Taylor told the Review-Journal the new lodge is under construction and slated for 2027, and the firm is also refreshing the property's cabins to complement the new building.

Steelman Taylor said the new lodge will not replicate the old structure but will keep elements people associate with it, including big fireplaces, cozy spaces and a place for coffee and cocktails. She said she thinks it is one of the most asked about. Ellis told the newspaper that Steelman was eager to work with him even on smaller projects.

What to watch next

• Construction of the new Mount Charleston Lodge, which Steelman Taylor told the Review-Journal is slated for 2027.
• Steelman Partners' work refreshing the lodge's cabins so they complement the new building.