Aesthetics & Solar Protection
Remarkable Usage of Concrete for Office in Las Vegas, Nevada
by Mason Nichols, Writer for the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute
Boasting sweeping views of Red Rock Canyon and the Las Vegas Strip, 1700 Pavilion is a ten-story, 267,000 sq.ft. Class A office building located in Summerlin, a planned community in the western part of Las Vegas, Nevada. Situated next to Summerlin’s open-air retail, dining, and entertainment area, 1700 Pavilion also marks the beginning of a community promenade that, when completed, will connect current and future office, residential, retail, and dining venues within Summerlin and beyond. To achieve 1700 Pavilion’s sleek exterior design featuring 442 unitized, glass-fiber-reinforced concrete (GFRC) panels, architect Hart Howerton, San Francisco, California, partnered with precast concrete producer Willis Construction, San Juan Bautista, Californa.
While designing 1700 Pavilion, Howerton sought to position the building as an integral part of the community. To that end, the design facilitates pedestrian traffic, and the building has an aesthetic connection to the surrounding neighborhood. Precast concrete is used to establish 1700 Pavilion as an urban structure, while the large glass openings allow occupants to view the juxtaposition of the area’s urban and natural landscapes.
The project team selected GFRC for its modularity, cost-effectiveness, efficiencies, and high performance. Most of the 442 GFRC panels measure 26 feet long and 13.5 feet high, and all of the panels are white with a medium sandblasted finish. The precast concrete panels were glazed and insulated at the precasting plant. As a result, they created a complete, unitized enclosure once installed. This modular approach was schedule friendly, allowing the installation work to be completed with speed and efficiency.
The GFRC panels provide passive solar protection for the large openings throughout the building enclosure without blocking desired sunlight or obscuring the occupants’ views of the outside. On the south and west façades, the designers pushed the limits of panel depth to 18 inches to provide maximum solar protection. Conversely, for the north and east faces, the panels are just four inches deep, allowing more daylight to come into the building. Aesthetically, the daily play of light and shadow on the façade contributes to the vibrancy and allure of 1700 Pavilion.
For its sleek, sun-protected design, 1700 Pavilion received an Honorable Mention in the Office category from the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute in their 2025 Design Awards. The building is an impressive testament to the way that GFRC panels can be used in unique ways to create sustainable, distinguished, and long-lasting architectural projects.
