The Team: Deutsche Bank (ownership), John Unwin (Cosmopolitan CEO), Arquitectonica (building architects), Friedmutter Group (executive architects), designers Rockwell Group, Jeffrey Beers, Adam D. Tihany and many more.

The Brief: Create a first-class luxury casino-resort on just 8.7 acres of the Las Vegas Strip able to compete with high-end neighbors like Bellagio and CityCenter.

The Project: The $3.9 billion project opened in December with 2,000 rooms (the remaining 995 will open this summer, 100,000 square feet of casino gaming, 150,000 square feet of meeting space, a 43,000-square-foot spa, three pools and an eclectic assortment of first-to-Las Vegas boutique shops and restaurants featuring world-renowned chefs.

The Focal Points: From the moment you walk into the lobby, the Cosmopolitan looks different. Huge and stunning video art columns greet guests. On the far side of the casino, the three-story Chandelier Bar is perhaps the most striking element in the entire resort and offers visitors the chance to enjoy a cocktail in the middle of the massive chandelier. The P3 Commons provide a neighborhood feel in a relaxing and central location in the middle of the acclaimed restaurants. Three pools offer distinctly different experiences: The Boulevard Pool overlooks the Strip in a casual setting, the Bamboo Pool has a spa feel and offers more privacy and the Marquee Dayclub Pool is a lounge-like environment by day and an extension of the nightclub after dark.

The Finished Product: Despite its size, the Cosmopolitan feels more like a small boutique hotel with its unique charm. The guestrooms feel like luxury apartments—it did start as a condo-hotel project—with all but 708 rooms offering at least 730 square feet of space and private terraces.

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