The Rivers Casino
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
OWNER: Holdings Acquisition Co., L.P.
PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT: Bergman Walls & Associates, Ltd.
OTHER DESIGNER: Floss Barber Interiors
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS: Keating Building Corporation & Smoot Construction
TOTAL INVESTMENT: $300 million
Slated to open in August, the sole slot casino in Pittsburgh will be a reflection of the beauty that is the cityscape near the confluence of the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio rivers.
According to Scott Walls, a principal of project architect Bergman Walls & Associates, the firm “started with a fresh piece of paper” when approaching the exterior design, because of how proud the locals are of their city and its existing architecture. “We needed to create a beautiful piece of architecture that would be another icon to the city,” Walls says.
The way to do that was to make the project blend into its surroundings. “We took the contour of the rivers, the fluid lines of the water, and incorporated it into the concept of the building,” says Walls. “You’ll see the curves in the facade along the river, which has a flowing motion to its shape, as well as subtle lighting that will move across the facade to simulate the flowing waters.”
The river-friendly design carries on inside the 100,000-square-foot casino, which will house 3,000 slots and five restaurants, plus two bars that have been tailored especially for Pittsburgh, and for native Pittsburghers. For the sports-happy locals, the Wheelhouse sports bar will feature food, TV and an outdoor terrace that overlooks the river and Heinz Field, the stadium of the world-champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
Walls says his team added the sports bar only after contemplating the casino’s local audience. “We’ve got a sports town here, and we needed to create something for them,” he says. “We know the Wheelhouse is going to be a huge party element on game days, and every weekend.”
Another distinctive spot is the Drum Bar, a two-and-a-half-story bar overlooking the river that is basically a glass drum with a bar at the bottom. Legendary signage vendor Yesco was brought in to build a chandelier light column that grows out of the center of the bar to simulate falling water. “It’s a fascinating piece of sculpture,” says Walls, “which can be seen from the river.”
In the end, the Rivers Casino will blend perfectly in with the Pittsburgh skyline on the outside, and will reflect the beauty of the three rivers on the inside.
