COVER STORY

THEATER

The Theater at MGM

National Harbor will offer
seating for up to 3,000.
The theater is designed
for flexibility, to allow
for a variety of events.

MEETING ROOMS

Up to 50,000 square feet

of convention and meeting
space is available. The
target: smaller groups.
The largest space provides
16,137 square feet.

FELT

BOB DYLAN

CONSERVATORY

The 15,000-square-foot
conservatory sits beneath
a glass-topped atrium. Its
initial exhibit, designed by
Ed Libby, will feature more
than 70,000 flowers.

VALET PARKING

Its not cheap, but it is

available, at a price
of $25 for the first
12 hours and $45 for
between 12 to 24 hours.

A lounge described as a
dashing cocktail spot
with live music and DJdriven sounds, cozy
chairs and an outdoor
terrace facing D.C.

MGM commissioned
the singersongwriter to sculpt
an iron archway,
Portals, measuring
26 feet by 15 feet
and crafted from
objects handpicked
by Dylan.

CASINO

The 125,000-square-foot
gaming floor is as large
as any MGM property.
The space is broken
up into distinct areas,
including a poker room.

O HOTEL & SPA

TAPS SPORTS BAR

A bar and restaurant

that will feature 95 flatscreen TVs, plus local
and seasonal craft beers,
on a site overlooking the
Potomac River and D.C.

NATIONAL MARKET

MGMs version of a food

court with indoor-outdoor
seating. Among the nine
venues: Amos Los Tacos,
Banh Mi Vietnamese
Kitchen and Bento.

BLOSSOM

Located in the heart of

the casino floor, Blossom
is described as a sexy
space featuring a woodplank ceiling, sofas and
four table games.

Patrick Fisher, executive director of MGM National

Harbors hotel operations, said the 308-room hotel
some of which overlook the conservatory will offer
our guests everything they want in this market that they
cant get downtown.
The hotel features five types of suites ranging from
588 to 3,210 square feet, all designed by New York Citybased Studio GAIA. The chairman suite is the biggest,
with its glass facade and views of D.C., two bedrooms,
a large living room, a kitchen, bar, secluded library,
full-size dining room, stand-alone oval tubs in the
lavish master bathroom, and a light-hued wood wall
featuring abstract art from a Maryland artist.
Technology is baked into the experience, said Fisher,
who most recently served as director of rooms for D.C.s
The Ritz-Carlton hotel. From the lights in the mirror to
the television to the service-request button by the door,
everything, he said, is fully integrated.
The hotel will be served by 350 employees, and
Fisher said hes been pleased with the abundance of
talent in this market, in Prince Georges County.

POTOMAC PLAZA

The landscaped plaza

atop the MGM plinth and
parking garage includes
a Bellagio-reminiscent
fountain and reflecting
pool, plus outdoor seating.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

GUEST PARKING

With nearly 5,000 spaces,

the MGM National Harbor
parking garage is among
the largest in the MGM
chain. Most visitors are
expected to drive.
ARTWORK COURTESY MGM NATIONAL HARBOR

FISH

From chef Jos Andrs,

Fish celebrates the best of
Maryland, the Chesapeake
Bay Watershed, while
include time-honored
cooking techniques.

VOLTAGGIO

Brothers and Top Chef

alums Michael and Bryan
Voltaggio, Maryland
natives, have teamed up
for the first time to create
a classic steakhouse.

The Peterson Cos. is not done with the MGM environs not by a long
shot. Immediately north of the resort, between MGM and Tanger,
Peterson has an approved site plan to develop roughly 1.3 million
square feet more. The conceptual development includes a massive
mixed-use building that combines a 500-room hotel, 702 apartments,
189 timeshare rentals, 22,000 square feet of retail, 972 restaurant seats,
22,000 square feet of entertainment-related spaces, an enclosed
walkway to MGM, 2,070 garage parking spaces, and an outdoor
pedestrian plaza adjacent to the historic Addison Family Cemetery.
That land is resting, Milt Peterson said. There are a lot of people
that have interest in that property. We want to produce something
great, because theyve produced something great. Its all approved and
ready to go when we get the right users.
Not unlike MGM itself, the Petersons have patience, and it usually
pays off.
National Harbor will have one life, and one personality, prior to
MGM, Milt Peterson said. With MGM, its personality will change, and
Im saying it is an improvement.