Posted on July 31, 2012 by Marjorie Preston -
Set like a jewel in the center of downtown Melbourne, the Crown Entertainment Complex & Casino recently introduced a glittering new gaming space, the West End Casino at Crown.
A year-long, multimillion-dollar redevelopment brought sleek contemporary style to the addition, made possible when owner-operator Crown Ltd. won the right to add new gaming space to its enterprise.
The redevelopment was designed to appeal to a smart, affluent urban crowd that wants more from their visits than gambling. Along with a new gaming area, the do-over added public and retail spaces, a new restaurant and bar, three new terraces, and new and renovated restrooms, among other improvements—all brought to vivid life with streamlined silhouettes and dazzling architectural features.
“The scope of work was to create a new grand-scale entry feature, bold gaming floor, and ‘see and be seen’ bar-lounge with a patio that overlooks the Yarra River,” said Ken Kulas, principal of Cleo Design of Las Vegas.
A new premium gaming room includes two party suites, new cage and casino support areas, and a living room-style bar-lounge with a space for live entertainment.
Owner-operator Crown Limited “wanted to change the perception of the Crown brand, and make it a place to visit during not only the weekend but also the week,” said Cleo Design principal Ann Fleming. “The wish was to bring a Las Vegas-type gaming environment, with a bolder and livelier color palette, more dynamic design details and new gaming offerings.”
Kulas and Fleming worked to change the Australian idea of gaming “to include a more social environment. They want the affluent 30-year-old to 60-year-old patron to come to the casino for good food and entertainment with gaming integrated.”
Owner: Crown Limited
Architect: HBO+EMTB, Australia
Interior Designer: Cleo Design
Contractor: Baulderstone
Total Investment: $50 million-plus
Posted on July 31, 2012 by Casino Style Staff -
Cuningham Group Architecture, Inc. exists to create beautiful places for a balanced world. Simple and eloquent, the statement of the company’s principals and designers embodies their passion for design and its impact on their clients, communities and the world. Their “Beautiful Places, Balanced World” approach to the business and practice of architecture is one they’ve nurtured for more than four decades.
Founded in 1968, the multi-disciplinary design firm provides architecture, interior design, urban design and landscape architecture services for a diverse mix of client and project types, with significant focus over the past 20 years on gaming and entertainment. Bolstered by a staff of 235 and offices in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Biloxi, Seoul and Beijing, Cuningham Group has expanded services and markets to meet a growing demand from some of entertainment’s largest and most respected clients.
The company’s portfolio includes casinos, hotels, theaters, convention centers, restaurants, retail venues, master plans and support facilities for gaming and resort destinations throughout the U.S. and around the world.
Cuningham Group’s top priorities are design excellence through a client-centered, collaborative approach they call “Every Building Tells a Story,” and development of green solutions. This philosophy toward gaming design emphasizes one-of-a-kind solutions—creating experiences and a sense of place by telling stories through a modern interpretation of metaphors that reflect the vision of the client and the character of each property and site. This process benefits clients by providing unique environments that differentiate them from the competition.
In addition, the company has developed criteria to evaluate all projects based on a “Triple Bottom Line” sustainability business model of “People, Profit and Planet.” Cuningham Group believes for any project to be sustainable, it must also be profitable to their client.
Recent and significant projects include the expansion and renovation of Palace Casino Resort in Biloxi; the first stand-alone Margaritaville Casino & Restaurant in Biloxi; the dramatic rebranding of the Trump Marina into the luxurious and exciting Golden Nugget Atlantic City; and the $650 million transformation of Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel in North Carolina into a sophisticated, world-class mountain resort.
Cuningham Group is consistently ranked among top firms in publications such as Building Design + Construction and Engineering News Record, and its design work has been honored with more than 135 industry and market awards, including HOSPY Awards for Best Hotel, Best Lobby and Best Suites.
For more information, visit www.cuningham.com.
Posted on July 31, 2012 by Frank Legato -
The first two casinos that opened in Maryland demonstrated the realities of operating under the state’s onerous 67 percent revenue tax: Ocean Downs and Hollywood Casino Perryville are small venues in prime locations, built to draw maximum revenue on minimal investment.
In May, Cordish Companies broke that mold with the opening of Maryland Live!, a massive, first-class casino resort. It too is in a prime location—adjacent to the huge Arundel Mills Mall in Hanover—but unlike its predecessors, Cordish pulled out the stops with a $500 million investment and some of the industry’s premier architects and designers, who built a facility worthy of most Las Vegas casinos, but one that includes a lot of local flavor as well.
According to project architect Mike Larson of Klai Juba Architects, one of the challenges was to design a building that would fit nicely into the Arundel Mills Mall complex but would still stand out as stylish and unique. The other was an accelerated time schedule.
“Our goals were to make a good impression on this new market and deliver a property that integrates well into its context in order to deliver an exceptional experience to the guest and foster the symbiotic relationship that Maryland Live! has with its major retail neighbor,” Larson says. “This was achieved by studying the existing vehicular and pedestrian traffic patterns and working with them for a logical integration with the existing conditions.”
Another challenge was fitting a lot of square footage into a relatively small footprint. This was achieved by building the multi-level parking garage on top of the casino.
Inside, the challenge was a bit different—filling a massive 330,000 square feet of space without overwhelming the customers.
“The size of the overall gaming floor and property is double what a typical casino footprint is,” says interior designer Ann Fleming, a partner at Cleo Design. “We needed to create an interesting gaming environment that still feels intimate and warm, considering the scale of the facility.” This was accomplished with a color palette Fleming calls “warm and lively.”
“With the interjection of hot colors like pink, and coral within the red/umber/chocolate/cream palate, it allowed us to use quality materials and still be contemporary, young and fresh amid the timeless design details,” Fleming says.
The orientation of the building and parking garage posed a different challenge. “The ceiling height limitations forced us to be creative,” Fleming says. “We created floating ‘chandeliers’ that changed color throughout the day. There were also ‘ribbon’ ceiling paths created that also changed color and help lead the guest from one end of the casino to the other.”
Fleming says her favorite design feature is the central “R Bar,” in the middle of the casino floor. “It is an oval shape, so views to the bar are achieved in all directions within the casino floor.”
It also has added action—adjacent Interblock multi-player electronic table games—along with TV screens everywhere beaming sporting events. “The bar is high-energy,” says Fleming.
In fact, the whole facility is high-energy.
Owner: Cordish Companies
Architect: Klai Juba Architects
Interior Design: Cleo Design and Westar Architectural Group
Contractor: Commercial Interiors and TN Ward
Total Investment: $500 million
Posted on July 31, 2012 by Casino Style Staff -
The leader of Forte Specialty Contractors, Scott Acton, is a third-generation craftsman. His grandfather and father before him created and built innovative designs over the last five decades for many familiar venues. Their early handiwork still can be seen at Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flags and Sea World, and as far away as Wynn Macau, among several other places you probably have visited.
Acton likewise has proven the capacity to imagine, construct and install innovative designs for restaurants, clubs, spas, retail facilities, entertainment venues and more.
Forte was conceived by Acton as a solution to a changing market that demands more accountability, creative problem-solving, speed and efficiency. Forte can act as both general and theming contractor for any project a client may have in mind. This new business model provides owners a firm grip on how and where their dollars are spent. The uniquely skilled Forte team integrates the end vision into every element of the project—from the basic building blocks of construction to finite details of the themed experience.
Forte starts with the finish in mind, and the result means the customer is presented with economical solutions and superior workmanship. Forte’s ability to conceive spectacular environments starts with Acton. His idea of combining layers of the traditional construction processes with a new organization has quickly turned heads in a very competitive industry.
Forte’s experience and talent eliminate layers of administration. By collaborating directly with the client’s creative team, Forte can bring its vision to life while maximizing resources and focusing the investment where it matters most—creating a memorable experience for every guest. The company understands the theme is what brings guests back.
A new kind of owner-contractor relationship is being developed, and Forte is leading the way. Forte believes a client’s complete satisfaction is always achievable, and makes every effort to not only build an exceptional product, but to create long-lasting contractor-client relationships.
See what three lifetimes of creativity and skill can do for you at www.fortedesignbuild.com.
Posted on July 31, 2012 by Dave Bontempo -
Where else but in gaming can a symbol of capitalism gain the blessing of a communist government?
That’s exactly what will occur next year when MGM Resorts International and Asian Coast Development (Canada) Ltd. (ACDL) unveil the spectacular MGM Grand Ho Tram, Vietnam’s first large-scale integrated resort. A major role will be played by Steelman Partners—as the architect and in the areas of interior and lighting design, as well as a principal—for this historic endeavor. In 2008, the Vietnamese government awarded Asian Coast Development the first license to build a gaming resort. At least five more have followed, but this is billed as the signature architectural piece to announce Vietnam’s leap into gaming.
MGM Grand Ho Tram will be the first component of the $4.2 billion multi-site property. Ho Tram Strip resort complex will be built along pristine beaches overlooking the South China Sea. It will be constructed on approximately 400 acres, 80 miles from Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam.
The master plan consists of five stunning resorts and a gorgeous golf course set on the white sand beaches of Ba Ria Vung Tau Province. This unique development opportunity in the temperate climate of southern Vietnam parallels the early growth of Las Vegas into a premier tourist destination.
The Ho Tram Strip will combine innovative architecture with lush natural surroundings to offer an exclusive and luxurious, experience-based alternative to Singapore and Macau. The resort will feature lavish Vegas-style entertainment rooms and acres of premium shopping and exceptional recreation facilities. The 1,100-room MGM Grand hotel and accompanying VIP cabanas figure to be a testament to luxury.
Other key features include an exclusive VIP area with private lounges, high-end retail shopping and convenience retail, landscaped gardens with water features and an exclusive pool with cabanas and pool bar.
The planned second phase of the MGM Grand Ho Tram includes a further 549 guest rooms and 14 VIP Villas, bringing the total number of five-star hotel rooms to 1,100 and completing the development of the first integrated resort.
Owners: MGM Resorts and Asian Coast Development
Architect: Steelman Partners
Size: Approximately 400 acres
Total Investment: $4.2 billion
Posted on July 31, 2012 by Casino Style Staff -
Friedmutter Group is an award-winning, internationally recognized design, architecture, master planning and interior design firm, specializing 100 percent in multi-use hospitality/casino/entertainment projects of all sizes.
Founded in 1992 by Brad Friedmutter to exclusively provide services to gaming/hospitality clients, Friedmutter Group has been identified as a leader and innovator throughout the industry. From core and shell architectural design to interior fit-out, the firm provides high-quality, iconic design solutions to clients.
The firm’s critical understanding of the many required elements of the this project type, from site selection and development to operating fundamentals, further enhances its ability to successfully create unique design of gaming and hospitality projects in existing and new markets around the world.
Brad Friedmutter is a registered architect in 43 states, holds an unrestricted Nevada gaming license, and has been in the gaming and hospitality industry for more than 35 years.
Friedmutter Group’s core expertise is in mixed-use projects comprised of hotels, casinos, restaurants, bars and lounges, entertainment complexes, convention facilities, spas, pools and outdoor venues, retail facilities and malls, hotels and hotel towers. Friedmutter Group’s team of design professionals have won numerous industry awards for an impressive list of projects well in excess of $15 billion. Recent honors include Architectural Design Company of the Year (2006: American Gaming Institute and Reed Exhibitions), the 2009 National Design-Build Award of Excellence for Quechan Resort Casino (Design-Build Institute of America), numerous industry design awards for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Red Rock Resort Casino & Spa, Green Valley Ranch Resort, IP Casino Resort, Cache Creek Casino Resort, Harrah’s AC Resort, and many more. In addition, Friedmutter himself is frequently honored for his myriad contributions to the industry. Recent honors and awards include his induction to the 2009 Hospitality Design Platinum Circle, honoring career achievement in the hospitality industry; the 2008 Hospitality Industry Network Lifetime Achievement Award; and the prestigious 2007 Sarno Lifetime Achievement Award for Casino Design.
Friedmutter Group remains at the forefront of innovation, design and leadership in the casino/hospitality industry with projects including Studio City Macau, Horseshoe Cincinnati Casino, Twin Arrows Resort Casino, Graton Rancheria Casino & Hotel and Vee Quiva Casino & Hotel. Recently completed projects include Horseshoe Cleveland Casino, Northern Edge Casino, Coconut Creek Resort Casino and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
Friedmutter Group’s expertise, reputation and dedication have produced an over 90 percent rate of repeat business from clients including Station Casinos, Caesars Entertainment, The Navajo Nation, MGM Resorts International, Seminole Gaming, the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and many more.
For more information visit www.fglv.com.
Posted on July 31, 2012 by Casino Style Staff -
The road to establishing a casino at the legendary Aqueduct racetrack was long and winding. But when Malaysian gaming giant Genting finally won the bidding in 2009, the wait was well worth it.
The site is located near New York’s Kennedy Airport and at the gateway to the Long Island suburbs, and is connected to the rest of the city via the New York City mass transit system. Due to that favorable location, the property has quickly become the top slot machine performer in the nation.
As the lead architect, JCJ’s first task was to make it happen quickly.
“This was one of the most aggressive schedules we’ve ever undertaken,” says Eileen O’Brien, JCJ’s director of business development. “We divided the project into multiple phases and into multiple project teams, so there were many teams working simultaneously on various aspects of the entire project—headed by a group of team leaders providing oversight and cohesion throughout.”
Adding even more pressure was the fact that the project was Genting’s first project in the U.S.
“This was to be the flagship, so consequently needed to set the standard,” says O’Brien.
It was Genting’s plan to make the casino familiar to its target market: New Yorkers. So the various sections of the casino were given names that would make them feel at home: Times Square and Fifth Avenue casinos, the Central Park events center, and the Midtown Express restaurant.
But there were other reasons for the separation of the casinos.
“The owner’s desire for segmentation drove the general size and design preferences,” says O’Brien. “The casino design itself was created to house two distinct gaming experiences: a large casino to appeal to the mainstream crowd, and a separate casino that would appeal to the sophisticated player.”
The design style would also be comforting to New Yorkers.
“The vision was to be respectful of, and to incorporate, local iconography to underscore the authenticity of this being truly a New York enterprise,” she explains. “Design nods to landmark buildings such as Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building can be seen throughout. More so in character statement than in any particular architectural style, there are subtle hints of New York’s grand Art Deco period, but with a modern interpretation.”
With 18 food and beverage outlets, 6,400 parking spaces, and 5,500 slot machines (a combination of VLTs and electronic table games), Resorts World New York provides a the first casino experience for New Yorkers in the city. Genting has discussed building a convention center adjacent to the casino, which would also include a hotel and the legalization of table games. Although nothing has been finalized, it would make Resorts World New York one of the premier casino destinations in the world.
OWNER: Genting New York
ARCHITECT & INTERIOR DESIGN: JCJ Architects
CONSTRUCTION: Tudor Perini
SIZE: 1,086,000 square feet (180,000-square-foot casino)
COST: $830 million total ($540 million hard construction cost)
Posted on July 7, 2011 by Casino Style Staff -
Theme and specialty design and construction have been part of the gaming industry for decades. Developing an entire theme, or integrating accent pieces or focal points within a property, creates the desired mood and ambiance, and provides a new and unique guest experience. Interior and exterior specialty features located in highly visible areas such as porte cocheres, lobbies, restaurants, lounges, gift shops and gaming floors provide identifiable differentiation and unique branding opportunities.
Since 1957, COST has been among the leading firms in theme and specialty construction. The company’s casino work began in the early 1990s when many properties were looking for ways to stand out from competitors. As casinos have transformed into entertainment destinations over the years, COST has been an integral part of the ever-changing and constantly expanding casino industry.
The theme and specialty finishes developed by the staff of creative artisans have become the focal points of many of the most recognized casinos in the U.S. and abroad.
COST’s clients range from Las Vegas mega-casinos to smaller gaming properties in more remote locations. The majority of the company’s work can be found in Native American casinos. From 1993 to the present, the firm has constructed more than 40 tribal projects. As an active member of NIGA, WIGA and AICC of WI, COST realizes that many tribal properties represent more than a casino. COST’s theme designers work closely with tribes and their architects and carry out the necessary research to incorporate tribal culture or heritage within each thematic feature or accent developed.
COST executives believe their greatest achievements occur when there is a close collaboration among owners, developers and design and construction teams. As an integral consultant and contractor, COST’s typical scope of work involves shop drawings, 3D renderings and scale models that all act as “checks and balances” and ensure the ideas and visions are well-reflected in the fabrication and construction phases.
Fabrication is done within a 140,000-square-foot plant in Jackson, Wisconsin, a Milwaukee suburb. COST is highly experienced in all types of materials and fabrication techniques, such as decorative glass, metal work, GFRC, FRP, concrete composites, epoxies, acrylics and custom carpentry. As a result, the firm can offer themed solutions for nearly every setting and budget. COST construction crews and artisans travel worldwide to install our work, ensuring our quality standards are met from initial design to final installation and construction.
For more information on how COST specialty and theme work can enhance any new or existing property, visit www.costofwisconsin.com or call 800-221-7625.
Posted on July 7, 2011 by Casino Style Staff -
Recognized as one of the world’s leading design-assist specialty building companies, KHS&S is transforming casino construction by using innovative building methods to create the “wow” factor that has become synonymous with a KHS&S project.
Using advances such as BIM, virtual project delivery and lean manufacturing, KHS&S is now able to streamline construction schedules and bring multiple time and cost-saving techniques to large-scale projects from casino resorts to high-end retail centers. The company also is investing in prefabricated construction to accelerate schedules while enhancing quality.
The beauty of KHS&S’ brand of thinking comes from knowing how to perfectly blend technology and craftsmanship to achieve the best that each offers. 3D models perfectly define and guide construction of complex buildings and structures, and in-house artisans use hands-on creativity to produce one-of-a-kind finishes, eye-catching ornamentation and intricate architectural detailing. Laser-scanning technology exactly replicates the designer’s intent for a signature rockwork feature, as craftsmen experiment with color washes to find a palette that best integrates man-made materials into the natural environment.
Recent KHS&S projects that are impressing clients and dazzling visitors include CityCenter and the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Seminole Hard Rock casinos throughout Florida and Resorts World New York Casino at the Aqueduct Racetrack.
KHS&S is more than a contractor. The firm is a valued member of the building team that contributes to nearly every aspect of a project—determining constructability, design development, value engineering, material selection, global procurement and construction. With recent geographic expansion, KHS&S can build worldwide from North American offices in California, Canada, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Jersey, Tennessee, Texas and Washington, and international locations throughout China and Asia.
KHS&S is transforming construction to build casinos for today’s customer in the contemporary market environment.
For more information, visit www.khss.com.
Posted on July 7, 2011 by Casino Style Staff -
Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A. is a multi-disciplinary design firm providing architecture, interior design, urban design and planning services for a diverse mix of client and project types, with a significant focus on gaming, casino and entertainment destinations.
The company’s stature in the industry has grown significantly in its nearly 20-year history of designing gaming and resort destinations. Cuningham’s success creating environments that attract guests, increase profitability and encourage repeat visits has led to multiple awards and repeat work from clients. Of particular note, Cuningham Group’s Tom Hoskens, AIA, LEED AP was recognized by Global Gaming Business as one of “25 People to Watch for 2011.” He is the only architect named to this list that includes individuals from some of gaming’s most respected organizations.
Cuningham Group’s philosophy toward gaming design emphasizes one-of-a-kind solutions. Taking the approach “Every Building Tells a Story,” the company creates experiences and a sense of place by telling stories through a modern interpretation of metaphors that reflect the vision of the client and the character of each property and site.
Cuningham Group’s top priorities are design excellence through a client-centered, collaborative approach and development of green solutions. The company has developed criteria that allow its artists to evaluate projects based on a “Triple Bottom Line” sustainability business model of “People, Profit, and Planet.” Cuningham Group believes every project must be sustainable as well as profitable for our client.
The company’s portfolio includes casinos, hotels, theaters, convention centers, restaurants, retail venues, parking structures and support facilities for gaming and resort destinations in Europe, Asia and throughout the United States. Projects include Red Hawk Casino in California, River Spirit Casino in Oklahoma, Isleta Casino & Resort/Hotel/Convention Center in New Mexico and seven casino resorts for Grand Casinos/Lakes Entertainment.
Cuningham Group’s most recent and significant projects include the expansion and renovation of Palace Casino Resort in Biloxi; the dramatic rebranding of Trump Marina Hotel and Casino into a luxurious and exciting Golden Nugget Atlantic City; and—one of the nation’s largest projects currently under construction—the $650 million transformation of Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel in North Carolina into a sophisticated, world-class mountain resort.
Founded in 1968, Cuningham Group has more than 180 employees in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Biloxi, Bakersfield and Seoul. It is consistently ranked among top firms in publications such as Building Design + Construction and Engineering News Record, and its design work has been honored with more than 130 industry and market awards.
For more information, visit www.cuninghamgroup.com.
