Published on: June 2, 2026, 05:46h. 

Updated on: June 2, 2026, 06:00h.

Paul Steelman, the founder of Steelman Partners, a prominent architecture firm in Las Vegas, expresses his disappointment every time he visits Resorts World, feeling it is “far less” than the ambitious plans his team presented starting in 2012.

On a recent episode of the On the Corner of Main Street podcast, Steelman noted that he did not choose to have the nightclub Zouk serve as the main entrance to the resort from the Las Vegas Strip.

He shared that his aspiration—and that of former Genting Berhad CEO Tan Sri K.T. Lim—was to develop Halo, a grand entrance concept unveiled in 2018 and described on Steelman Partners’ website as “Resorts World Halo — Phase 2.”

This design was intended to be a “unique Las Vegas attraction,” merging a VR theme park, fantasy waterpark, glowing nightlife, lounges, rides, and extraordinary experiences.

Steelman described Halo as “a stunning visual experience,” which received board approval.

He also mentioned that Steve Wynn candidly acknowledged that a Halo-fronted Resorts World would be his main competition for Strip attractions.

“He believed (Lim) would be the only contender on the Strip capable of competing with him, considering his extensive experience with theme parks,” Steelman noted. Lim has overseen major projects like Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park in Malaysia, Universal Studios Singapore, and Illumination’s Minion Land.

Ultimately, as Steelman’s team finalized their designs, “they opted to instead add 1,000 additional rooms.”

Forgotten Aspirations

Halo was one element of several alternative designs for Resorts World. In 2012, Lim initially imagined a vast Chinese-themed resort comprising a live panda exhibit, a replica Great Wall, tea gardens, and traditional red pagodas.

However, Steelman noted that political realities soon altered their plans.

“In 2012, U.S.-China relations were positive,” he stated. “This was certainly going to be a Chinese resort, with a steady flow of Chinese visitors, and (Lim) intended to capitalize on that.

“But what shifted in 2016? The presidential election changed the landscape. Suddenly, China was not in favor.

“Now, contemplating a multi-billion dollar investment, if you’re K.T. Lim, you reconsider.”

The Current Reality

The $4.3 billion resort, which resides on the 87–88-acre site formerly known as Echelon Place—purchased by Genting for $350 million in 2013—finally opened on June 24, 2021. It marked the first ground-up resort on the Strip in over a decade, featuring a 75,000 square-foot entertainment complex—including Zouk Nightclub, AYU Dayclub, RedTail social gaming bar, and FUHU restaurant—positioned directly on the Strip’s southeastern corner.

This design was also crafted by Steelman’s firm, but he expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of any visual grandeur.

“It’s unfortunate,” Steelman lamented. “Resorts World had the potential to be one of the most captivating casinos.”

During its building phase, a number of people mistakenly perceived Resorts World as merely replicating the design of the Wynn properties across the street.

This led to legal action from Wynn Resorts, which filed a lawsuit against Genting in December 2018, claiming that the design was “substantially and confusingly similar” to the “trade dress” and architectural style of the Wynn and Encore. By January 2019, the two companies reached a resolution: Resorts World agreed to incorporate red and orange tones as well as multi-colored patterns into its glass facade.

In concluding his podcast appearance, Steelman expressed optimism about the potential future of Resorts World—not in its current form, but what it might evolve into.

“I believe there’s still an opportunity with all the master plans we’ve crafted, and potentially with additional suites, given that the south development encompasses 11 acres. Perhaps the corner where Zouk sits may change, as it’s uncertain how popular it really is as a nightclub.

“However, fundamentally, there’s still a chance…and I think we all should remain hopeful that this develops into something special.”

Remarkably, about a third of the 88-acre site (nearly 29 acres to the south and northwest) was intentionally left open for future development.

“Lost Vegas” is a recurring series on Casino.org, showcasing the hidden stories of Las Vegas history. Click here to explore more entries from the series. Have a captivating Vegas tale lost to time? Reach out at [email protected].