LAS VEGAS, Dec. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Crystals Retail & Entertainment District at CityCenter has earned Gold sustainable design awards from the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the global trade association of the shopping center industry. The awards were earned in ICSC's annual U.S. Design and Development Awards competition.

"Crystals is an integral part of CityCenter and was created with a vision to bring a new level of environmental consciousness to the world-famous Las Vegas Strip. As one of the world's largest sustainable developments, CityCenter's environmental responsibility spans the spectrum from design and construction to operations and guest amenities," said Jim Murren, Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) that co-developed CityCenter with Infinity World Development Corp.

Crystals won the Gold Award and Sustainable Design Award in the Innovation Design and Development of a New Project category. The category recognizes and honors a new shopping center on how it demonstrates a specific design or resolution of a construction problem, or how new standards in design and construction were established.

The Award was based on how the project met five criteria: Sustainability including transportation, education about environmental responsibility and engaging retailers in sustainability design and operations; Water Efficiency; Energy & Atmosphere; Materials & Resources; Indoor Environmental Quality.

According to the ICSC, the Award recognizes Crystals for "its array of the world's most exclusive retailers in an environment of architectural design excellence. By design, Crystals features a multi-faceted glass canopy depicting the intricate beauty of a quartz crystal that welcomes the abundance of natural light into the three-level experiential environment.

Crystals has also been awarded the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED® Gold certification for sustainability, and is currently the largest LEED®  Gold certified retail district in the United States.   In addition at CityCenter,  LEED® Gold certifications have been awarded to ARIA Resort & Casino's hotel tower, convention center and theater;  Vdara Hotel & Spa;  Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas; and Veer Towers. 

About ICSC
Founded in 1957, ICSC is the premier global trade association of the shopping center industry. Its more than 55,000 members in more than 90 countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, marketing specialists, investors, retailers and brokers, as well as academics and public officials. As the global industry trade association, ICSC links with more than 25 national and regional shopping center councils throughout the world. For more information, visit www.icsc.org.

About CityCenter
CityCenter is an unprecedented urban metropolis on 67 acres between Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. CityCenter is a joint venture between MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) and Infinity World Development Corp, a subsidiary of Dubai World. CityCenter features ARIA, a 61-story, 4,004-room gaming resort; luxury non-gaming hotels including Las Vegas' first Mandarin Oriental and Vdara Hotel & Spa; Veer Towers, the development's only strictly residential buildings; and Crystals, a 500,000-square-foot retail and entertainment district. Vdara, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas and Veer Towers include approximately 2,400 residences total. CityCenter also features a resident Cirque du Soleil production celebrating the timeless musical legacy of Elvis Presley; and an unparalleled Fine Art Collection with works by acclaimed artists including Maya Lin, Jenny Holzer, Nancy Rubins, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, among others. CityCenter is a design collaboration between MGM Resorts International and eight internationally acclaimed architectural firms including Pelli Clarke Pelli, Kohn Pedersen Fox, Helmut Jahn, RV Architecture LLC led by Rafael Vinoly, Foster + Partners*, Studio Daniel Libeskind*, David Rockwell and Rockwell Group, and Gensler. At the forefront of sustainability, CityCenter is the world's largest private green development. ARIA, Vdara, Crystals, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas and Veer Towers all have received LEED® Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. This marks the highest LEED achievement for any hotel, retail district or residential development in Las Vegas. The Harmon Hotel has been postponed until such time as CityCenter determines to proceed with its completion. For more information about CityCenter, please visit www.citycenter.com.

About MGM Resorts International
MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is one of the world's leading global hospitality companies, operating a peerless portfolio of destination resort brands, including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage.  In addition to its 51% interest in MGM China Holdings Limited, which owns the MGM Macau resort and casino, the Company has significant holdings in gaming, hospitality and entertainment, owns and operates 15 properties located in Nevada, Mississippi and Michigan, and has 50% investments in three other properties in Nevada and Illinois. One of those investments is CityCenter, an unprecedented urban resort destination on the Las Vegas Strip featuring its centerpiece ARIA Resort & Casino. Leveraging MGM Resorts' unmatched amenities, the M life loyalty program delivers one-of-a-kind experiences, insider privileges and personalized rewards for guests at the Company's renowned properties nationwide. Through its hospitality management subsidiary, the Company holds a growing number of development and management agreements for casino and non-casino resort projects around the world. MGM Resorts International supports responsible gaming and has implemented the American Gaming Association's Code of Conduct for Responsible Gaming at its gaming properties. The Company has been honored with numerous awards and recognitions for its industry-leading Diversity Initiative, its community philanthropy programs and the Company's commitment to sustainable development and operations. For more information about MGM Resorts International, visit the Company's website at www.mgmresorts.com.

Statements in this release which are not historical facts are "forward looking" statements and "safe harbor statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the U.S. the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and other related laws that involve risks and/or uncertainties, including risks and/or uncertainties as described in the company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  We have based those forward-looking statements on management's current expectations and assumptions and not on historical facts.  In providing forward-looking statements, the Company is not undertaking any duty or obligation to update these statements publicly as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by law.

SOURCE CityCenter