In the heart of Las Vegas, where innovation meets excitement, the High Roller stands as a testament to human engineering and the creativity of the city. Developed by Caesars Entertainment, the world’s largest gaming company, this impressive structure rises 550 feet (168 meters) above the ground. Upon completion, the Las Vegas High Roller became the tallest observation wheel in the world, holding that title until 2021 when the Ain Dubai (Eye of Dubai) opened. However, the Eye of Dubai has been out of operation since 2022. The High Roller is located on a sprawling 350-acre parcel just one block west of the iconic Las Vegas Strip, directly across from Caesars Palace. The $550 million project stands as an icon of the city’s skyline and a common attraction for the constant stream of visitors that make their way to the city.

Engineering and Building the Structure

The American Bridge Company team undertook the monumental task of constructing this engineering marvel. Their scope of work included the supply and erection of the 469-foot (143-meter) diameter wheel, which rests on a fixed spindle supported by four inclined steel legs. These legs stand approximately 283 feet (86 meters) above ground level and are reinforced by a transverse braced leg. The structure was designed by ARUP’s San Francisco team with help from their London Office.

The High Roller’s structure is a marvel of modern engineering. The four tubular steel legs, varying in diameter up to 9 feet (2.8 meters), were constructed first. These legs are anchored to concrete foundations and equipped with 13 tuned mass dampers to mitigate vibration. The total weight of the steel used in the support and brace leg system is a staggering 1,331.6 tons (1,208 metric tons).

The 545.6-ton (495 metric ton) hub, spindle, and bearing unit was erected in three pieces using a falsework truss designed by American Bridge. The hub and spindle assemblies, made of steel forgings with a heat-treated welded overlay, were meticulously assembled and positioned using cranes and precise skidding techniques.

Rim and Cable System

The rim of the High Roller, a tubular steel structure with a diameter of 6.6 feet (2 meters), was erected in 53-foot (16.1-meter) segments. These segments were bolted together with collar splices and supported by radial erection struts. As seen in the video above, the wheel was incrementally rotated and assembled using a 750-metric ton capacity Hydraulic Rotating Mechanism (HRM) designed by American Bridge and Enerpac.

The wheel’s cable spoke system, consisting of 112 locked coil spokes, was installed in two phases. The final cable tensioning ensured each cable achieved a force of 1,189 kilonewtons (267,300 pounds) within a tolerance of +/-10%, resulting in a final wheel tolerance within +/-25 millimeters (1 inch). In summary, that explains that the cables were tensioned to a specific force with a small allowable variation, leading to a very precise final structure.

A Global Effort

Constructing the High Roller required collaboration with specialty suppliers from around the world. Structural steel came from China, bearings from Sweden, gripper systems from the Netherlands, forgings and castings from Japan, cables from Italy, and tuned mass dampers from Germany. The erection engineering was performed by American Bridge engineers in Coraopolis and Las Vegas, while skilled labor and supervision were provided on-site. This global effort is a testament to the importance of this beloved attraction in the City that Never Sleeps.