After a groundbreaking debut of its visual capabilities, Sphere is on track to continue making entertainment history...
Timeline
Coordinated with stakeholders and partners locally and across the world to prepare design packages in order to expedite permitting while still delivering high-quality designs on an unprecedented schedule
Adaptability
Redesigned miles of public roads and three private properties to meet Formula 1® and FIA standards while preserving the city’s vibrant atmosphere
Strategy
Strategically managed separate pit building site and track design phases and planned for the complex mobility needs of guests, employees, residents, and drivers before and during the event
In November of 2023, the Formula 1® Las Vegas Grand Prix returned to the City of Lights and made its mark on the Strip for the first time in more than 40 years. Visitors witnessed an adrenaline-fueled race around a 3.8-mile circuit, watching drivers take 50 laps at speeds of up to 212 miles per hour around iconic landmarks like the Las Vegas Sphere.
To host the premier sporting event of 2023, the entire event area—which includes both public streets and private property—was adapted to accommodate Formula 1 cars and support the safety and mobility of hundreds of thousands of spectators. In partnership with Miller Project Management and Tilke Engineers and Architects, our team provided the following services to drive the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix forward:
- Civil engineering design
- Roadway reconstruction design
- Permitting
- Traffic signal modifications
- Surveying support
- Utility design for pit building property
- Landscape architecture for pit building site and Las Vegas Boulevard
- Structural design of retaining walls and specialty structures
- Traffic management support
- Roadway striping design during and after the race
As the engineer of record for the site civil engineering and roadway reconstruction design, our team engineered the repaving of Harmon Avenue, Koval Lane, Sands Avenue, and the southbound lanes of Las Vegas Boulevard. The roadway reconstruction also included replacing portions of existing medians to accommodate the track design and runoff areas, designing pavement markings, replacing bus pads, and installing more than five miles of ITS conduits.
Creative Surveying & Site Development
To survey miles of active roadways and private properties, our team partnered with subconsultant SAM to avoid disrupting the 24-hour Las Vegas scene while still achieving a comprehensive model of the track and pit building site. Our teams utilized a combination of aerial survey techniques as well as the unique method of truck-mounted LiDAR to map and model the entire Formula 1 track without major road closures.
After the surveying phase, we prioritized demolition plans for existing structures on a 40-acre site near the Las Vegas Sphere that Formula 1 purchased to host the pit building with garages and VIP hospitality spaces. Once demolition started, we moved into engineering plans for the pit building property, which included paving, grading, drainage, utility plans, and landscape architecture. We were able to complete the site grading with the structural design of 16-foot-tall retaining walls and more than 250,000 cubic yards of fill to raise the pit building property to Formula 1-specified elevations.
Additionally, our team supported the design of two underground pedestrian tunnels to connect the outside of the pit building site to the basement of the building. Our efficient and creative strategies for surveying and site development met Formula 1’s requirements and supported greater mobility for guests.
Permitting and Coordination on a Streamlined Schedule
The timeline for the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix event was ambitious from the beginning: the event date was just 19 months away from the start of our survey and conceptual design. Additionally, permitting for the project was complex and needed to align with the expedited timeline. Kimley-Horn partners in Las Vegas and across the US worked together to create and implement a schedule that elevated quality services—all while ensuring that designs were approved and permits were issued within the aggressive timeline.
From the early stages of the project, our team brought in multiple jurisdictions as partners rather than just plan reviewers. We coordinated the civil design with Clark County, Las Vegas Valley Water District, Clark County Water Reclamation District, and other utility companies and authority having jurisdictions, who supported us in navigating the expedited permitting process while integrating voices from all jurisdictions.
In partnership with the owner’s representative, Miller Project Management, we also spoke with both public and private stakeholders—from agencies to casino owners—to answer their questions and share status updates. This strategic approach to stakeholder engagement ensured that the multi-faceted project could proceed with minimal interruptions while also accommodating the normal activities of the Vegas scene.
Accommodating Las Vegas Locals and Visitors
One of the most integral elements of the Formula 1 project was the track itself. Our team prepared roadway reconstruction plans and traffic signal modification designs for this world-class event, and we supported the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix on their traffic and pedestrian management plans that could be applied both to race and non-race days. The impacted corridor required the adjustment of 37 traffic signals, including loop and camera detection layouts, to accommodate ongoing construction activities. Additionally, our roadway reconstruction plans were created to align with both Formula 1 and motor sporting jurisdictional body Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) standards and allow the track to function as normal public streets before and after the event.
We coordinated with a variety of stakeholders to preserve mobility and provide a seamless experience for residents, employees, Formula 1 fans, and tourists staying in the more than 23,000 hotel rooms within the confines of the track. Our team prepared layouts and profiles for four vehicle bridges to support the passage of vehicles into and out of the track during the race. Overall, we prioritized reduced impacts to the surrounding properties—preserving the iconic vision of Las Vegas and adapting our work to a dynamic pre-existing environment.
The Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix is projected to be a part of the region’s annual event roster for the next two years (and possibly more), and the roadway and traffic infrastructure was designed with both this year’s race and the future in mind. As motor sporting enthusiasts around the world keep their eyes on the Grand Prix, our team is ready and willing to fuel whatever new Las Vegas dream is just around the next turn.