The Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) stands as one of the premier convention facilities in the world, attracting millions of visitors annually and hosting some of the most high-profile trade shows and events on the global calendar. Over the course of several years, GES has served as a trusted engineering and consulting partner to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), providing geotechnical, environmental, and construction materials testing and inspection services across three phases of the facility’s multi-billion-dollar expansion and renovation program. Our work at the LVCC reflects the full breadth of GES’s capabilities, from subsurface investigation and environmental characterization to hands-on inspections in one of the most demanding, high-visibility project environments in the country.
West Hall Expansion
GES’
relationship with the LVCVA began with providing geotechnical drilling and engineering design recommendations and environmental assessments for the Phase 2 expansion: an 1,800,000-square-foot addition constructed on the former Riviera Hotel site and former Gold Lot parking area. The new facility incorporated a world-class exhibit hall, meeting rooms, service docks, and extensive back-of-house support infrastructure to accommodate the growing demands of the convention industry.
As part of the Quality Assurance and Acceptance (QAA) Materials Testing and Special Inspections team, GES delivered a comprehensive suite of geotechnical and inspection services throughout construction. Our scope included structural fill placement and grading oversight, soils and pad certification, drilled pier foundation inspection, structural steel and masonry inspections, exterior insulation finishing system (EIFS) review, fire-resistive penetration and joint inspections, floor flatness and levelness testing, epoxy and mechanical anchor inspections, and both spray-applied and intumescent paint fireproofing verification. Throughout the project, GES coordinated directly with the Owner’s Representative, the Contractor, and the Design Team, and prepared final reports required by governing jurisdictions.
A significant environmental challenge also emerged during this phase. The site’s proximity to two former dry-cleaning facilities had created a plume of PCE (perchloroethylene) contamination in the underlying soil and groundwater. GES conducted a targeted subsurface and groundwater investigation, carefully collecting soil samples from six borings and groundwater samples from four borings drilled during the preliminary geotechnical phase. All samples were submitted to Environmental Science Corporation Lab Sciences for analysis. GES then compiled findings and delivered a detailed report with recommendations to the LVCVA, ensuring the safety of construction crews throughout the project and providing the data needed to guide responsible remediation decisions.
North and Central Hall Renovation
Building directly on our Phase 2 experience, GES was selected to provide geotechnical engineering services for the Phase 3 renovation of the LVCC’s North and Central Halls. This phase focused on dramatically transforming the front exterior of the existing facility with one- to two-story steel frame structural additions reaching heights of up to 115 feet. Foundation systems under consideration included drilled shaft foundations with pier caps, shallow continuous footings, and spot foundations, many of which would be constructed adjacent to or tied into existing foundations built 30 to 50 years ago. Anticipated column loads reached approximately 500 kips, making precise geotechnical analysis essential to safe and cost-effective design.
GES developed a strategic drilling program with boring locations targeted at each structural component, allowing for real-time feedback and program adjustments as the design evolved. This phased approach enabled the team to respond to design changes quickly, adjusting boring depths and locations and targeting specific subsurface zones for additional sampling as needed.
The active, occupied nature of the LVCC campus added a layer of operational complexity rarely encountered on construction projects of this scale. Work windows were restricted during major convention events, with many drilling operations required to take place during nighttime hours. To address the site’s known environmental sensitivity, consistent with conditions identified during Phase 2, GES implemented a rigorous spoils and groundwater characterization program. This involved individual mobilizations for each boring, on-site containment of drill spoils in dedicated storage containers, off-site transport, laboratory characterization, and proper disposal following receipt of analytical results. The existing structure and surrounding surfaces were protected and cleaned at the conclusion of every shift, ensuring zero disruption to ongoing convention operations.
Engineering & Facilities Services Building
Most recently, GES was engaged to provide geotechnical evaluation services for a new warehouse facility on the LVCC campus: a 25- to 30-foot-tall CMU and steel structure intended to replace aging existing buildings. Anticipated column loads reached up to 120 kips, with no below-grade structures planned. Our scope included exploratory borings, soil sampling, laboratory testing, and a full geotechnical engineering analysis with design and construction recommendations. A key consideration for this project was the site’s classification within a Clark County special geotechnical consideration area, carrying a low-to-moderate expansive soil potential of four to eight percent, a factor requiring careful attention in foundation design and subgrade preparation. GES also stands ready to deliver construction materials testing and inspection services once final design plans and a construction schedule are in place.
A Long-Term Partnership Built on Trust
Across all three projects, GES has demonstrated the depth, versatility, and operational adaptability that large-scale, mission-critical clients like the LVCVA expect. Whether navigating environmental contamination, coordinating complex drilling programs around live convention schedules, or delivering meticulous construction inspections on a $1.4 billion facility, our team has consistently delivered. We are proud to be a long-term partner in the ongoing evolution of one of Las Vegas’s most iconic and economically vital destinations, and we look forward to continuing that partnership through future phases of the LVCC’s development.