Home to one of America’s most iconic cities, Clark County, Nevada, set a powerful ambition to create a new Government Center that looks beyond the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas. Instead, they hoped for a building with a strong sense of place — a destination that is the heart of the community.

Embracing the tradition that government exists to serve the people, the design was developed to represent the community values and environment of Clark County. We wrapped the complex’s functions in a unifying embrace, emblematic of an open, accessible government. The Government Center is organized around a multifunctional courtyard and shaded arcade, protecting visitors from the desert sun. Natural stone forms and three layers of trees complete the circular layout and define an outdoor amphitheater for community gatherings, providing an essential connection between the public and their government.

The design is a perpetuation of Clark County’s architectural heritage and culture. Nevada’s native landscapes found at Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire are reflected throughout the design, including sandstone walls, unexpected openings and details, and geometric shapes. The tree-lined pedestrian spine leading into the building represents the pathway to Mouse’s Tank at Valley of Fire, while petroglyphs chiseled in the shaded arcade illustrate actual sandstone carvings engraved by Native Americans throughout Southern Nevada.

Inside, a kiva-shaped County Room features a rotunda inspired by the stream-worn basin of Mouse’s Tank. Skylights carefully filter light into the building, simulating the dappled light found along the canyon trails. The pyramidal structure housing the cafeteria and Community Room rises ceremoniously out of the central mass to reflect Lone Mountain in the distance. Inside the nearby Commission Chambers, triangular clearstories inspired by the Prickly Pear cactus filter light through rose-tinted glass. Warm wood panels create a comforting backdrop while red sandstone emulates Nevada’s landscape.