'Death Ray' from Las Vegas Hotel burns guests..

Analog

Lifer
Jan 7, 2002
12,755
3
0
Las Vegas hotel guests left with severe burns from 'death ray' caused by building's design


By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 11:53 AM on 29th September 2010

Guests at a new hotel in Las Vegas have complained of receiving severe burns from a 'death ray' of sunlight caused by the unique design of the building.

Due to the concave shape of the Vdara hotel, the strong Nevada sun reflects off its all-glass front and directly onto sections of the swimming pool area below.

The result has left some guests with burns from the powerful rays and even plastic bags have been recorded as melting in the heat.

article-1315978-0B64405A000005DC-284_472x313.jpg
Death ray: Guests at the Vdara hotel in Las Vegas have complained of receiving severe burns from the intense spot of sunlight reflected off the building



article-1315978-0B643F91000005DC-539_470x288.jpg
No fun: Some of those trying to sunbathe at the swimming pool had to run for cover to escape the intense heat



Chicago attorney Bill Pintas felt the power of the dangerous ray first hand last week.
'It felt like I had a chemical burn. I couldn't imagine why my head was burning,' he said.

'Within 30 seconds, the back of my legs were burning. My first though was, 'Jesus, they destroyed the ozone layer!'

Gordon Absher, a spokesman for MGM Resorts, which owns the Vdara hotel, said they was aware of the issue and designers were working with resort staff to come up with a solution.


In fact it is claimed that the designers foresaw the issue with the reflecting sun but thought they had solved it by installing a high-tech film on the south-facing panes of glass.

However, Mr Absher, conceded it had not been enough and some of the guests had suffered as a result.

The Las Vegas Review Journal quotes one hotel employee as saying the building's design causes the sunshine to be diverted 'like a magnifying glass that shines down' over a space of about 10 by 15 feet as the poolside.

And as the Earth rotates, the spot moves across the pool area. The 'death ray' can increase temperatures by around 20 degrees.

While the designers work on fixing the problem, the hotel is looking at getting some larger, and crucially, thicker umbrellas to provide better shade for guests.
article-1315978-0B6440DA000005DC-308_474x533.jpg





http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...leaves-guests-severe-burns.html#ixzz113LoKvIQ
 

DesiPower

Lifer
Nov 22, 2008
15,299
740
126
...the result has left some guests with burns from the powerful rays making them instant millionaires and even plastic bags have been recorded as melting in the heat...

Fixed
 

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
31,046
321
136
"You're right Jim, I see absolutely no possible consequences of building a giant 57-foot curved mirror in the desert, let's do it!"
 

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
Do you guys EVER read Anandtech's front page? *rolls eyes*

Also, it's not a "death ray" until it's killed someone. Anyone wanna volunteer?

Cheapest/easiest solution is to move the damned pool.

I guess lawyers don't know the ozone layer's true effect.
 
Last edited:
Jun 27, 2005
19,216
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So the (Fucking) Daily Mail is basically parroting a lawyer looking for clients. And this is news. Yay! :awe:

How long has this hotel been open?
 

ForumMaster

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2005
7,792
1
0
i loved the comments in the DailyTech article:

Drag0nFire said:
I think this should be termed the "Apple Phenomenon". Prioritization of aesthetics over usability leading to overheating. After all, there's no functional reason for that building to be parabolic...

...In other news Apple Computer has just acquired the Vdara Hotel Las Vegas. We asked Mr Jobs about the "burning effect" encountered by some of the pool visitors.

Mr. Jobs replied by saying it was nothing to be alarmed at...obviously the customers are just laying wrong.

And in other news, George Lucas is suing the hotel for allowing its employees to use the term "Death ray", which is an obvious allusion to his "Death Star".
 

Matthiasa

Diamond Member
May 4, 2009
5,755
23
81
Next time check when it was posted, that article is from when the thread was initially posted. :p
 

foghorn67

Lifer
Jan 3, 2006
11,883
63
91
Vegas has some unique problems with their casinos.
For example, the huge waterfall that flows down the Monticello's entire length raises the humidity level drastically for a naturally dry climate.

Okay, it's 330AM, and I am wired. I'll shut up now.
 

ultimatebob

Lifer
Jul 1, 2001
25,134
2,450
126
Vegas has some unique problems with their casinos.
For example, the huge waterfall that flows down the Monticello's entire length raises the humidity level drastically for a naturally dry climate.

Okay, it's 330AM, and I am wired. I'll shut up now.

Umm... I think that you mean the Montecito, which doesn't really exist. It was just CGI used to make a fake casino for that Las Vegas TV show.

The Vdara actually has a waterfall that flows over part of the building, but nothing that big.
 

Cuda1447

Lifer
Jul 26, 2002
11,757
0
71
Umm... I think that you mean the Montecito, which doesn't really exist. It was just CGI used to make a fake casino for that Las Vegas TV show.

The Vdara actually has a waterfall that flows over part of the building, but nothing that big.

Yea, I was like WTF. The Montecito? I was just in Vegas in April... I don't remember seeing that hotel!
 

guyver01

Lifer
Sep 25, 2000
22,135
5
61

wasn't me.. i swear. There was a "junior member" with 1 post whose post must have been deleted by the mods. He necroed the thread.

damn mods.. making me look bad. i'm innocent! i swear! ():)
 
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