Donald Brinkerhoff, who delighted millions of Las Vegas visitors by transforming the once gray median along Las Vegas Boulevard and upgrading resorts with lush landscapes, has died.
Brinkerhoff, a landscape architect who founded Lifescapes International Inc. with his wife Barbara, was 90 years old when he died on July 16 at his home in Newport Beach, California.
His fingerprints and influence are visible along the Strip, from the tropical landscape at The Mirage to the stately pine trees and fountains that create an old-world vibe at Bellagio, to Lifescapes’ newest project at Resorts World, which has around 7,000 . Plants and trees were planted, including relocating about 100 trees that were rescued from the old Stardust hotel grounds.
Brinkerhoff’s work began in earnest with his landscape design of The Mirage for Steve Wynn in 1989 and continued through his work on Resorts World Las Vegas with lead architect Paul Steelman, who said Brinkerhoff used the terms “hardscape” and “softscape” in landscape architecture during. shaped his career.
“In short, great”
“Don’s input from The Mirage, Treasure Island, Bellagio, Wynn, Encore and China has been critical,” said Steve Wynn, former chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts, through a representative. “It was Don who came up with the detail of the front of The Mirage, and it was Don who introduced me to Mark Fuller with the idea of the fountain at the Bellagio.
“Those creative contributions, along with its stunning landscaping, were a huge responsibility that all great hotels enjoyed,” he said.
Brinkerhoff also designed the median of the strip with trees and plants.
The Las Vegas Beautification Project consisted of four and a half miles of roads that modeled the middle of the landscape on what it believed to be the largest middle road in the world, now known as the Nevada Scenic Highway. Seventy-six thousand palm trees, shrubs, flowering foliage, and ground covers were planted. Completed in 1996, more than 200 property owners on the Strip unanimously approved the $ 13 million district project, which had no tax implications for individual Clark County taxpayers.
“I went to Don to beautify the Strip in the ’80s, and Don came up with the whole idea of the median trees to make the sharp-edged signage softer and warmer,” said Wynn.
“In short, he was great. I am grateful to have such sweet memories of this lovable man. “
“Wonderful landscape creations”
Brinkerhoff has worked with almost every major strip developer throughout his career, and his trademark has been to plant “big trees”.
“Don Brinkerhoff was a visionary designer whose work includes many wondrous landscape creations across the Las Vegas Strip,” said Bill Hornbuckle, CEO of MGM Resorts International, which houses much of the designer’s work.
“Its extensive portfolio includes many of MGM Resorts’ most famous attractions, including the Oasis at The Mirage and the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino. His work leaves a lasting impression on the city and delights millions of visitors every year. “
Brinkerhoff’s company also supplied the flower work for Wynn Resorts Ltd.’s Encore. in Las Vegas and Encore Boston Harbor in Massachusetts.
“Don shared our belief that the elements of nature – beautiful plants and flowers, natural light, the relaxing sight, and the rush of water – are essential to all human beings, and he helped us make them key elements of the Wynn experience.” , Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox said. “Although he will be missed, his vision lives on in all of our resorts.”
Alan Feldman, a distinguished Fellow in Responsible Gaming at the UNLV’s International Gaming Institute, worked with Brinkerhoff while at Mirage Resorts and later at MGM Resorts International.
A family man
“In addition to his worldwide reputation as one of the best landscape architects, he was first and foremost always a family man,” says Feldman. “The whole Brinkerhoff family was involved in the work, and their talent as a group was remarkable.”
Julie Brinkerhoff-Jacobs, a daughter who serves as the president and chief financial officer of Lifescapes, said her parents’ love of travel inspired many of the ideas for their projects, noting that her family lived in several locations around the world before moving settled in Newport Beach.
Feldman said Brinkerhoff was unwavering even if customers changed their minds about designs during the project.
“Don sets the tone as patriarch: cooperative, balanced, funny, just a wonderful colleague. He was also unwavering. Even when his client’s views changed and approved designs were changed, he would adapt and offer new solutions that were even better than the originals.
“His work on The Mirage helped usher in the age of the modern integrated resort not just in Las Vegas, but around the world. Fortunately, in addition to Treasure Island and Bellagio, this work will remain in his memory as a legacy. “
Brinkerhoff has received several awards over the course of his career. In 2001, he was honored by the California Homebuilding Foundation, made a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects, and the first architect to be inducted into the California Building Industry Hall of Fame and in 2016 the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame.
Resorts World work
One of Brinkerhoff’s last projects was the recently opened Resorts World, which he worked on with lead architect Steelman.
“Las Vegas was very fortunate that Don visited Vegas in 1986 to conduct an interview for the design of The Mirage,” said Steelman. “That day changed Las Vegas and casino entertainment forever and shaped the beautiful suburban look of our very urbanized city.”
Steelman called Brinkerhoff the first landscape architect to see landscape not only as nature, but also as entertainment.
“Don was also a lover of all arts and music,” he said. “His passion for art was evident in his landscape designs all over the world.”
Steelman said he was there when Brinkerhoff got The Mirage deal.
“While the other competitors offered unique solutions, they were based on the desert in the southwest. Don’s design was the only one that viewed landscape as escapism. He was the only landscape architect who envisioned the design concepts that casinos have used for years could be placed in landscapes.
“Steve Wynn loved Don’s presentation, and Don stayed in Vegas for several days building a model with thousands of tiny model trees. Of course, Steve followed this design vision on every subsequent project with Don. Bellagio, Treasure Island, Wynn, Encore, Beau Rivage, Wynn Macau, Wynn Palace. Don also designed the waterfront gardens that preceded the Fremont Street Experience. “
Brinkerhoff leaves three children, son Martin Brinkerhoff from Laguna Beach, California; and daughters Julie Brinkerhoff-Jacobs of Corona del Mar, California; and Karen Hedstrom of Newport Beach. He was preceded by his daughter Christie Dunbar and his wife and business partner Barbara, who died in December 2014, three weeks before his death.
A celebration of life for Brinkerhoff is scheduled for August 6th in Newport Beach.
Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on Twitter.
