Cosmopolitan offices show economic optimism

While some casino projects on the Strip have stalled and longtime fixtures such as the Sahara have announced that closure is imminent, not all the news out of Las Vegas these days is so dire. In fact, some projects are thriving.

The Cosmopolitan proved that this month when it opened a new office building at 5170 W. Badura Ave. The 37,000-square-foot facility was constructed in five months and houses office space for more than 200 employees.

"It was always part of the plan to expand," Sherry Harris, chief strategy officer, said. "We knew we would need more space, and it's a sign that we are optimistic about the economy, I think, that we've moved forward with implementation and completion on this project."

Harris said the new building is inspired by both urban and organic themes from New York's popular SoHo district.

The facility incorporates cork floors, curving chalkboard walls, think tanks, a cafe, an outdoor courtyard, a library and rest stations.

"This isn't your average office building," Harris said. "We saw this as an opportunity to do something unique for the Cosmopolitan family."

According to Harris, employees have dubbed the building "SoCo," short for "South of The Cosmopolitan."

The building also features an art gallery featuring the work of employees. Harris said the unique and playful features of the building are designed to increase productivity and encourage collaboration in a creative space .

"Our goal is to create the kind of interactive atmosphere that lends itself to creativity," she said. "We've done research that indicates the value of opportunities where people are allowed to work outside of strict boundaries and the type of creativity that creates."

Harris said the space provides employees with their own work space and room to spread out.

"Nobody is cut off from each other," she said. "It's more like a neighborhood than an office space."

Brandon Sprague, the architect who designed the building, said the goal was to create a new and different workplace.

"This was something we knew from the beginning would be innovative," he said. "It was a collaborative effort, which was great because that's what we were hoping the space would encourage."

Harris said she hopes the community views the expansion as a sign that things in Las Vegas are on the mend.

"The economy has been tough for everyone," she said. "We're optimistic about the future."

Contact Southwest and Spring Valley View reporter Amanda Llewellyn at allewellyn@viewnews.com or 380-4535.