T-Mobile Arena

Las Vegas is unlike any other city in America. A popular destination for concertgoers, poker players and bachelor parties alike, the sheer scale of entertainment and attraction is unparalleled, especially along the Vegas Strip. This hub of culture arises from a desolate desert and is silhouetted by a majestic expanse of mountain ranges, strengthening the city’s mystique and allure. For architects and construction companies, erecting a new building in Vegas that can stand out from the crowd based upon its own merit is a momentous undertaking — one that held true for the new T-Mobile Arena. Luckily, AEG and MGM Resorts International, the design teams responsible for constructing the joint venture entertainment complex, were prepared to make a mark.  

Led by the architecture team from Populous, designs for a cutting-edge $375-million indoor arena began in 2014. Designed with ambitions to one day host professional hockey and welcome more than 100 annual events, final plans for T-Mobile Arena called for a 650,000 square-foot structure situated on a 16-acre site, featuring 20,000 seats, 44 luxury suites, four expansive balconies — including one designed specifically for performances — an 85 foot tall glass atrium, and more. This is the largest arena Las Vegas has ever built, yet the most ambitious feature of the project is the exterior.

The design elements’ dichotomy creates an iconic exterior that honors the contrast between city life and nature, and would not have been possible without the fierce color matching process provided by Sherwin-Williams. After extensive planning with architects, Sherwin-Williams was tasked with color-matching shades from initial concept images. This process constituted the development of three primary shades to compose the metal bands, subdivided into three different hues for an added textured effect. After several rounds of formulation, nine total coating colors were customized from three main shades of Sherwin-Williams Fluropon Classic II — Flaxen Gold, Titan Gold and Chestnut.

“Sherwin-Williams was able to achieve a fantastic grouping of colors for the final application that everybody loved,” said Norvell. “It’s incredibly hard to formulate the subtle color change that we were targeting, and not only are the coatings visually pleasing, but they’re also extremely functional and will maintain that richness of color.”

Sherwin-Williams Fluropon coating is a staple in the industry, formulated to stand up to harsh weather conditions, and maintain resistance against chalking, fading and ultraviolet rays. Developed using intense pigments to achieve vivid colors, Fluropon coatings are known for maintaining vibrant colors. The nine Fluropon coatings used deliver a visually dynamic exterior for T-Mobile Arena while also providing many additional durability features that will keep the structure’s splendor shining well into the future.

“The T-Mobile Arena façade and overall exterior turned out to be exactly what our vision was from the outset,” said Dan Quinn, General Manager of T-Mobile Arena. “Our colleagues at Sherwin-Williams [Valspar] did a sensational job with the exterior coating for the venue and we look forward to working with them on future projects.”

The completed T-Mobile Arena officially opened its doors on April 6, 2016 and ushered in a new wave of entertainment to Las Vegas with a sold-out show featuring The Killers, Wayne Newton and Shamir. Thanks in part to Sherwin-Williams, the new venue’s exterior exudes the same iconic flair and natural grace as the surrounding city and landscape. In July 2016, the National Hockey League announced its decision to award Las Vegas, and the new arena, with an expansion team for the 2017-18 season based upon tremendous local support and appreciation for the state-of-the-art facility.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on August 23, 2016. Valspar was acquired by The Sherwin-Williams Company on June 1, 2017.