Saiful Bouquet was hired to perform full structural design services for the multi-million dollar Peoplemover project, one of several high-tech elements involved in the multi-billion dollar MGM CityCenter project. The APM system is one part of a three (3) station system and has an initial length of approximately 670 meters (2,200 feet) long. The other two end stations are located at Bellagio and Monte Carlo Resorts. The third station is integrated into CityCenter’s Retail District, adjacent to the 4,000 room hotel and casino tower at the heart of CityCenter.
The structure design is concrete and steel and employs cable-driven technology to pull people mover trains on two independent, parallel steel trusses for train travel in either direction. The electric-powered APM, designed for sustainability, is in stride with other CityCenter components that received LEED certification for extensive use of green technology. The APM system can carry up to 3,000 people per hour in each direction and travels at a speed of 23 miles per hour. The steel truss superstructure is supported on 24 piers, hammerhead cross beams supported on single column bents. The piers are supported on pile caps; and the pile caps, in turn, are supported on deep foundation, drilled shafts.
The project had an aggressive schedule to complete the APM piece. Granite Construction began in December 2006 and completed the concrete substructure by July 2007.
