In total, the renovation will incorporate 1,100 tons of steel and 5,000 cu yd of concrete, with Las Vegas-based Nevada Ready Mix and SME Steel, West Jordan, Utah, as suppliers.

Removing past flourishes

A trio of post-tensioned and cast-in-place concrete hotel towers are being stripped of Arabic fenestration and repainted in white and gray, making them ideal as oversized projection screens for images and video to entertain guests in the pool area. Glass curtain wall will replace room balconies, with the exception of penthouses. One chiller, two boilers and 14 air handlers are being added, along with new elevators, windows, carpet and fixtures.

The Las Vegas offices of Southland Industries and Hansen Mechanical are doing the mechanical and plumbing work; framing and drywall are being handled by the local offices of The Raymond Group, Anning-Johnson Co. and Tiffiny Decorating Co.

The 151-ft-tall, 97,000-sq-ft Tunis Tower is being remodeled with 203 guest rooms, while the 24-floor, 245,000-sq-ft Alexandria Tower is being configured for 289 rooms with offices, a spa and salon. The largest high-rise, the 254-ft-tall, 544,000-sq-ft Tangiers Tower, will have 1,130 rooms. SLS Las Vegas will have 1,622 rooms and suites upon completion, about 100 less than the Sahara.

To drive the fast-track project to an on-time and on-budget arrival, PENTA is promoting constant communication and partnering, including the use of design-assist subcontractors and weekly management meetings. In addition to select demolition work, PENTA is self-performing concrete work, millwork, hardware and doors.

Scheduled to finish construction on July 19, SLS Las Vegas has been a one-of-a-kind undertaking, says Lobel. "This is a project where you find something new everywhere you turn."