Editorial: A downtown spectacular

Thursday, March 3, 2005 | 9:22 a.m.

Las Vegas has reached another milestone on its way to becoming a major American city. On Wednesday Las Vegas businessman Larry Ruvo announced that world-renowned architect Frank Gehry has been commissioned to design the Lou Ruvo Center for Alzheimer's Care and Research in Las Vegas, which will be part of the 61 acres of downtown land that the city is developing. City officials hope that the development of the 61 acres -- a mixture of medical centers, retail stores and residences -- will revitalize downtown, a revitalization sure to be enhanced by Gehry's presence.

Gehry's mark on modern architecture is profound. He deserves inclusion with such architects as Frank Lloyd Wright, Phillip Johnson, I.M. Pei and Mies van der Rohe. In 1989 Gehry was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize, often referred to as the Nobel Prize of architecture. His bold architectural style is perfectly suited for our city.

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, a museum that has attracted more than 7 million visitors since its opening in 1997, was designed by Gehry. The museum -- with its abstract, titanium exterior that contains sweeping curves and petal-like shapes -- has been likened to an "artichoke." The Guggenheim Museum is given large credit for transforming Bilbao from a rundown shipping port into a city that Europeans now flock to visit. They don't come just to view the art inside the museum -- they also are drawn to the architecture of the museum itself. Many Las Vegans, especially with connections to Southern California, may best know Gehry for designing the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, whose architecture is nothing short of stunning.

Gehry's involvement with the Alzheimer's research center demonstrates that our city is continuing to evolve and mature -- and is ready to go to that next level. It calls to mind, in some ways, the 1990s, which ushered in a new era for Las Vegas, as hotels increasingly became world-class destination resorts. Competition among casino executives to outdo their rivals led to the construction of some of the finest resorts anywhere -- complete with some of the best dining found in the United States. Some of the resorts also opened art galleries and museums, too.

The future of downtown redevelopment is promising in light of Gehry's presence, raising the bar for all the other developers planning to build there, and creating the kind of electricity and creativity that will further energize downtown. This could be a transforming event for our city. What an invigorating way to start Las Vegas' centennial celebration this year.