Las Vegas Sands celebrates the start of construction at Sands Bethworks

Promising to bring new life to the old steel mill, Sands Bethworks will be a complex designed to be compatible with the existing architecture and industrial heritage.

"Bethlehem is a beautiful place and we are excited and ready to return this great landscape to its past glory. We take pride in our ability to construct compelling, creative and successful resorts, places that our guests have chosen as their destination of choice time and again," said William P. Weidner, President and COO of Las Vegas Sands. "Not only will this property attract visitors but it will also appeal to local residents by stimulating reinvestment in the region and creating new economic opportunities for the city of Bethlehem and the entire Lehigh Valley."

In its first phase, it will feature a 300-room hotel with a retail facility, 3,000 slot machines and a variety of dining and entertainment options. It will also be home to the National Museum of Industrial History, an arts and cultural center and the broadcast home of the local PBS affiliate.

"We are on track to develop a property that the region will be proud of and we are confident that everyone will enjoy the variety of options available. With so many choices under one roof, guests will be amazed as they are presented with top-notch shopping, dining and entertainment," said Bradley H. Stone, Executive VP of Las Vegas Sands Corp. "Also, as promised, it will contain varying components that will allow us to keep the integrity of the Bethlehem Steel buildings, preserving the industrial giant’s place in history."

Sands Bethworks is a model for ’Smart Growth’ redevelopment of a major brownfield site and will incorporate many of the remaining historical elements of the famed plant. For example, the massive ore crane will be part of the casino design and will serve as a reminder of the "old days" when visitors drive under it as they approach the brick-and-steel porte cochere. Design elements such as exposed steel, back-lit perforated metal screens and soaring, transparent glass monitors will be featured within a number of existing buildings.

"With construction underway and our long-term commitment firmly established, we look forward to providing new opportunities for so many in the area. From the creation of jobs, to the local businesses that we will team up with, Sands Bethworks is ready to become a vital part of the community," stated Robert J. DeSalvio, President of Sands Bethworks.

Executives from Las Vegas Sands along with the City of Bethlehem’s Mayor John Callahan, Council President Michael Schweder and Councilwoman Maggie Szabo were on hand in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to commemorate this historic occasion.