Building will mix daytime, nighttime use

Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006 | 12:31 p.m.

Start with the sterling reputation of local businessman and philanthropist Larry Ruvo.

Add the world-class cachet of architectural luminary Frank Gehry. Then stir in the flavor provided by Wolfgang Puck.

What you have is a recipe for an iconic, internationally recognized building that many expect to reach far beyond its noble daytime function as an Alzheimer's research center to become the nighttime venue of choice for a wide range of A-list civic events, banquets, receptions and fundraisers.

A Gehry-designed building in Las Vegas should be a much-coveted location for business groups, charities, weddings and other private parties, according to many who organize or frequently attend such gatherings.

"From what I know and have heard, it will be a unique piece of architecture," said Billy Vassiliadis, chief executive officer and partner of Las Vegas advertising agency R&R Partners. "That will make it a very much in demand place."

The building - to be located on a portion of the 61 acres of former Union Pacific Railroad land now owned by Las Vegas - will be Gehry's first in the city. In time, many expect it to take its place beside some of his other signature buildings, including the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain.

"What he is giving us is an iconic building," said Ruvo, senior managing director of Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada.

"When that building closes at night, I know what will happen because I know what he did for the entire city of Bilbao, Spain, and what is happening with the Disney center. People will come from all over the world to visit a Gehry building."

Ruvo intends to keep the building open at night, with lease revenue collected by the Keep Memory Alive Foundation, which will operate the Lou Ruvo Alzheimer's Institute. The institute also will have space to accommodate up to 400 people for banquets - and a Puck kitchen to feed them.

Although planning is still in the conceptual stages, Tom Kaplan, senior managing partner of the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group, said his company intends to operate a casual fine dining restaurant in the institute's atrium for lunch and afternoon drinks. At night, it would switch to a catering business.

Sun columnist Tom Gorman contributed to this story.

Steve Kanigher can be reached at 259-4075 or at steve@lasvegassun.com.