Anyone who’s been to Las Vegas, has seen the brilliant work of DeRuyter Butler, vice president of architecture for Wynn Las Vegas. He was involved with the Golden Nugget, The Mirage, Treasure Island and was the primary design architect for the Bellagio and Wynn Las Vegas as well as the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Miss. Currently, the Vegas construction icon is heading up the Wynn’s $2.1 billion Encore and took time to speak with DATELINE.
Q: How are you using design-build?
A: We create what’s called a core and shell package, which is essentially the hard structure. And we create the documents to that level that allows the interiors: the mechanical, electrical, plumbing and all the build-out trades to work on their documents. But they have to work to the shell that’s been given. So obviously, there [it] takes quite a bit of up-front planning to make sure that you haven’t shortcut the flexibility that the interior designers need. If you set the roof steel too low, you’ve cut off their flexibility for creating perhaps a dramatic ceiling. So you have to make some basic assumptions and work closely with the interior’s groups and the mechanical, electrical consultants that you provide enough space to accommodate their design.
Q: Are you finding that design-build helps decrease litigation?
A: Yes, because we work much more closely with the contractor in design-build. We have to provide information on a timely basis, and the contractor then has control of the architect and the other engineering disciplines. They have to produce their documents on a timely basis to overall meet the schedule.
Q: Casino owners often make changes. What happens when Mr. Wynn wants to change a plan in a design-build project?
A: If the owner wants to make a change, he goes to the contractor and says, ‘Here’s what I want to do.’ The contractor has to assess it and see what the impact is. [He says], ‘Well, I can do this, but it’s going to cost X or it’s going to impact the schedule.’ We’re all working integrally along the way for a common goal. Design-build puts the owner, the architect and the contractor on the same team. As opposed to: ‘Here’s a set of drawings; go build it.’
Q: Earlier, you mentioned the challenges Clark County presents (see story on page 16). Do they try to prioritize what they look at?
A: Nope. They don’t play favorites. They don’t offer any special benefits. They even have a process where if you pay overtime charges, you can get an expedited review, but I mean, our experience with those is you cut your time for a plan check from eight months to seven months.
Q: What is the labor like in Vegas?
A: We think labor is really stressed and stretched. With so many people in a market like this and there’s quite a number of major projects, you have to fight over the best skilled labor. But there’s definitely a lot of overtime, and there’s a big influx of workers from other areas. There are thousands and thousands of people here to work. Problem is, is there’s more projects in progress than labor can take care of.