Sun reflecting off of a Las Vegas hotel -- and glass made by a Minnesota company -- is cooking tourists with what hotel employees call (not entirely seriously) a "death ray."
The Vdara Hotel at CityCenter, a newly opened development along the Las Vegas Strip, was designed for high energy efficiency, and part of that design means keeping out the desert sun with high-tech, reflective glass made by Bloomington-based Apogee Enterprises Inc. (Nasdaq: APOG).
But the hotel's curved, mirror-like southern wall appears to be focusing an intense beam of sunlight on the pool area below. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that the reflected energy is hot enough to melt plastic cups and singe tourists' hair.
Apogee's Viracon manufactured the building's glass, but a spokeswoman said she was not aware of any other company projects with similar problems.
Owatonna-based Viracon began delivering more than 2.3 million square feet of glass for the development in March 2007, according to a news release. The reflecting glass is covered with a light-scattering film that designers thought would have prevented the problem, but a hotel spokesman said another solution is in the works.
 |
| Recon Proposes A Complimentary Study of Intensified Solar Activity |
Recon Independent Assessments proposes the following field testing:
Two consultants for a field study to determine the validity of the claims being made of focused solar intensity. A full written report of findings will be electronically submitted for project personnel's review.
Cost for the study will be minimal: Two comped rooms overlooking the pool (king bed preferred), comps for the buffet, round trip airfare from Orlando and ground transportation to and from the site.
In the event we end up looking like Doug from "The Hangover", at the conclusion of the study, Recon will hold the resort harmless.
Call us today, time's wasting...
