Over 300 Home Furnishings Manufacturers To Call Vegas Home
October 16, 2003
LAS VEGAS - When developers commenced construction September 29th on what will be the west coast's largest and most comprehensive home furnishings complex, they had already fully leased its tenant space. The 7.5 million-square-foot Phase One of World Market Center here will play home to 224 furniture manufacturers and two floors of accessory, lighting and wall art manufacturers when it opens in 2005.
The $1 billion venture is Vegas's largest non-gaming commercial construction project. It will comprise a convention center which will showcase home furnishings, decorative accessories, lighting, area rugs and other elements of the design trade. Developers also plan to create a 300,000-square-foot Temporary Pavilion and will begin leasing space there in early 2004.
''There is already a long list of prospective exhibitors who want space in the temporary market,'' said Dave Palmer, general manager of World Market Center. Palmer said he expects demand for space to outstrip the available space. In that event, the World Market Center management will review and handpick the exhibitors, he said.
Among the 224 leading furniture manufacturers leasing space at Phase One are Broyhill, Klaussner, Lane, Simmons, Serta, King Koil, Leggett & Platt Fashion Bed Group, Flextsteel, The Powell Company, Fairmont Designs, and Magnussen Home.
The center's auspicious beginning has thrilled the development team. ''We have been working toward this important milestone for three years and are thrilled to physically see the fruits of our labor unfold,'' said Jack Kashani, project co-manager.
The team comprises Whiting Turner Contracting Co., general contractor; Jerde Partnership International, lead design architects; JMA Architecture Studios, executive architects; JW Zunino, landscape design architects; Martin & Peltyn, structural engineers; Martin & Martin, civil engineers; and Harris, mechanical engineers.
The developers plan to station a web cam at the construction site and post the video on the project website, www.LasVegasMarket.com. ''With project participants all around the country, we want to be sure they have the opportunity to share in the progress of the Las Vegas Market,'' Palmer said.
The developers credited the project's success to cooperation between Vegas residents and project participants. ''Getting to this point is a result of true team collaboration, from city officials to our tenants to the architects and construction team,'' said Shawn Samson, project co-manager. ''We appreciate their commitment to this project, and we look forward to continued growth and success together.''
The $1 billion venture is Vegas's largest non-gaming commercial construction project. It will comprise a convention center which will showcase home furnishings, decorative accessories, lighting, area rugs and other elements of the design trade. Developers also plan to create a 300,000-square-foot Temporary Pavilion and will begin leasing space there in early 2004.
''There is already a long list of prospective exhibitors who want space in the temporary market,'' said Dave Palmer, general manager of World Market Center. Palmer said he expects demand for space to outstrip the available space. In that event, the World Market Center management will review and handpick the exhibitors, he said.
Among the 224 leading furniture manufacturers leasing space at Phase One are Broyhill, Klaussner, Lane, Simmons, Serta, King Koil, Leggett & Platt Fashion Bed Group, Flextsteel, The Powell Company, Fairmont Designs, and Magnussen Home.
The center's auspicious beginning has thrilled the development team. ''We have been working toward this important milestone for three years and are thrilled to physically see the fruits of our labor unfold,'' said Jack Kashani, project co-manager.
The team comprises Whiting Turner Contracting Co., general contractor; Jerde Partnership International, lead design architects; JMA Architecture Studios, executive architects; JW Zunino, landscape design architects; Martin & Peltyn, structural engineers; Martin & Martin, civil engineers; and Harris, mechanical engineers.
The developers plan to station a web cam at the construction site and post the video on the project website, www.LasVegasMarket.com. ''With project participants all around the country, we want to be sure they have the opportunity to share in the progress of the Las Vegas Market,'' Palmer said.
The developers credited the project's success to cooperation between Vegas residents and project participants. ''Getting to this point is a result of true team collaboration, from city officials to our tenants to the architects and construction team,'' said Shawn Samson, project co-manager. ''We appreciate their commitment to this project, and we look forward to continued growth and success together.''
