Las Vegas is home to many replicas, including scaled-down versions of the New York skyline and the Eiffel Tower. But with help from a Pasadena design firm, the strip is about to get something full size: the world’s tallest Ferris wheel.

The 550-foot-tall High Roller will be the central attraction at Linq, a $550 million outdoor retail and entertainment development by Caesars Entertainment Corp. The Las Vegas company hired Hettema Group Inc. to work on the design of the wheel and the entrance building. (Linq has another L.A. connection: Caesars also hired mall builder Caruso Affiliated to develop and manage the property.)

Hettema designs attractions at museums, theme parks and other entertainment destinations. The firm got the Las Vegas gig in part through professional connections. A top executive at Caesars used to work with Hettema founder Phil Hettema when they were colleagues at Universal Studios.

“Much of our work, though certainly not all of it, comes by reputation and word of mouth,” said Anthony Pruett, director of projects for Hettema.

When the wheel opens to the public in just over a year, it will have 28 climate-controlled passenger cabins that can hold up to 40 people each. The ride is expected to last about 30 minutes.

“The observation wheel is the big show,” Pruett said. “But there’s a bit of a guest experience going through the building, too, to get everyone in a party mood.”

Before getting on the wheel, visitors will go through an entry building designed by Hettema. On the first floor, guests meet a virtual cabin crew. They can grab a drink on the second floor and then proceed to boarding. Once in the cabins, riders will be greeted by the virtual crew on flat-screen televisions mounted inside.

“They’re meant to provide a little assistance throughout the trip, and a few fun facts, but it’s not a museum experience,” Pruett said. “In fact, we tried to stay away from that because people are there to see the view, they’re not there to get a history lesson.”

– Bethany Firnhaber