On Sept. 25, 2010, the Las Vegas Review-Journal broke the news that CityCenter’s Vdara hotel was afflicted with what management called a "solar convergence." The hotel’s crescent-shaped south wall, sheathed in glass, collected the sun’s rays in such a way that it created a lensing effect: a 10-foot-by-15-foot "hot spot" that traversed the pool deck during midday. Employees dubbed it "the death ray," a nickname that stuck.
Although co-owner MGM Resorts International thought it had taken sufficient measures to mitigate the reflection problem, these were clearly insufficient. One condo owner discovered this the hard way when his hair literally caught on fire (well, got badly singed). As reporter Joan Whiteley described it, "if you're at the hotel's swimming pool at the wrong time of day and season – [the convergence] can singe your hair and melt your plastic drink cups and shopping bags." It was also alleged to have killed the trees on the pool deck.
"Within 30 seconds, the back of my legs and back were burning. My first thought was, "Jesus, they destroyed the ozone layer!’" So exclaimed condo owner Bill Pintas to AOL News, which also broke the news that CityCenter management had been warned of such dangers by firm bidding on a Vdara contract (who didn't get the window-coating gig). Thanks to its catchy nickname, the Vdara phenomenon instantaneously went global, giving MGM two different sorts of damage control with which to cope.
Fast-forward a year and the "Vdara death ray" is old news and rarely mentioned – a strong indicator that the problem has been ameliorated. How, exactly, did CityCenter make the crisis go away – or at least cease to be a burning question?
We put that to company spokeswoman Yvette Monet. The clear implication of her explanation (presented in its entirety below) is that the Vdara façade remains basically as it was a year ago. The problem has instead been addressed by covering more of the pool deck itself, particularly the part across which the "death ray" travels. She writes …
"Vdara Hotel & Spa’s pool grounds now feature a network of shade-bearing umbrellas to offer comfort for guests who find the sun’s rays too intense for their liking. Umbrellas were installed throughout the deck area and can be easily raised or lowered in limitless combinations to provide guest comfort and accommodate the movement of the sun’s reflection as it moves across the sun deck throughout the day.
"Additionally, Vdara has installed signage reminding guests of the importance of responsible sunning. Sun exposure in areas surrounded by glass buildings may intensify the effects of sunning. The signs also recommend wearing broad-spectrum, SPF 15+ sunscreen, avoiding the sun during peak hours (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) and wearing clothing, hats and sunglasses that protect the skin. Sunscreen and stylish, wide-brimmed hats are available for poolside purchase for guests who may have left theirs at home."
In other words, there’s more shelter at Vdara than before but you sunbathe at your own risk. We wouldn’t say the problem has been "solved" … more like, put in the shade.
