It’s massive, it’s expensive and it is going to be the coolest thing in Las Vegas since the introduction of roller coasters atop hotels. The MGM Mirage’s CityCenter—an 88-acre, $11 billion project—is purported to be the single most expensive, privately funded construction project in U.S. history. Construction is taking place around the Bellagio, Monte Carlo and New York-New York. The best way to describe the CityCenter is a Las Vegas Mini-me. The complex is its own city that will include several luxury condominium complexes; the 500,000-square-feet The Crystals retail mall; a fire station; trams; 225,000 square-feet of convention space; an on-site power plant; and the 61-story ARIA Resort & Casino, home to Cirque de Soleil’s Elvis-tribute show opening in December. In following other Las Vegas mega-structures, those in charge of CityCenter construction are working to achieve the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. In the interior, art will be a prominent component including sculptures from such world-renowned artists as Jenny Holzer, Claes Oldenburg, Maya Lin and Coosje Van Bruggen. The Crystals is the entertainment and retail mecca featuring high-end retail shops such as Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., de Grisogono and Ermenegildo Zegna. The following are CityCenter venue opening dates: Vdara Hotel–Dec. 1; The Crystals–Dec. 3; Mandarin Oriental–Dec. 4; ARIA Resort & Casino–Dec. 16; Veer Towers condominiums–closings begin January 2010; The Harmon–late 2010.