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A DOZEN OF THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GAMING BUSINESS BY THE INDUSTRY ’ S LEADING ARCHITECTS , DESIGNERS AND BUILDERS
Telling A Story
POTAWATOMI HOTEL Milwaukee , Wisconsin
A TRANSPARENT GLASS tower that reflects the ripples of Lake Michigan pierces the Milwaukee , Wisconsin skyline to welcome guests to the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino .
“ It ’ s a very exciting project from a design perspective ,” says John Culligan , director of architectural operations for the Cuningham Group , designers of the new hotel in Milwaukee , which had its ribboncutting October 1 .
The Forest County Potawatomi have an existing casino and events center downtown . The $ 150 million , 19-story Potawatomi Hotel adds 381 rooms , including 16 suites . The 3,000-square-foot presidential suite gives a tremendous view of downtown Milwaukee and Lake Michigan .
“ The concept we follow in developing a design is that every building tells a story ,” says Culligan . “ We collaborate closely with our clients to tell their story insofar as their business culture and clientele .”
Yongkoo Lee , the project ’ s architectural designer , says , “ We started with the client ’ s desire to create a modern and iconic hotel tower , which would represent the tribe to their city and state — something they could extend along the skyline . We tried to create a building that would tell the story . We created a transparent glass tower whose skin reflects the excitement of the city .”
They designed a torchiere symbolizing that the tribe is known as “ Keepers of the
Flower .” The slim tower is topped by a beacon 20 feet tall that illuminates in multicolors , projects logos and can advertise special events . At the top , large letters spell Potawatomi .
Rising from the Menomonee Valley , an old industrial part of Milwaukee with few multi-story buildings , the tower is designed in a three-story podium . “ From afar the roof flows into the casino ,” says Lee . “ You can see it for miles , and that builds excitement as you arrive .”
Clad in off-white metal panels , from a distance it looks like a light glass tower , although it is structurally strong . The offwhite distinguishes it from the gray industrial valley . “ It ’ s modern , it ’ s fresh , it ’ s excitement and entertainment ,” Lee says . “ It has an extensive presence on the skyline .
“ We tried to replicate the design architecture of the casino , seamlessly creating the new building . You enter a whimsical porte cochere , which is an abstract form of an eagle about to take off .” Eagles are , of course , very potent symbols to almost all Indian tribes .
Interior designer Janet Whaley adds , “ Our new tower promises the experience of excitement . The two-story lobby delivers on that promise . It ’ s a walk through a stylistic forest . A lot of inspiration came from their existing casino . We took that as a starting point and wanted to reference nature but in a modern and abstract way .”
Columns rendered as tall trees disappear into canopies covered in color-changing LEDs that create different moods . The walls have a modern interpretation in veneered woods . Adding to the “ wow factor ” is a large hand-painted glass mural of Lake Michigan behind the front desk , a single large piece of white stone .
Compared to other hotel suites , this one has full floor-to-ceiling windows with great views . While not the lap of luxury of the Presidential Suite they will , at very least , make you feel like royalty . — DAVID ROSS
OWNER : Forest County Potawatomi Tribe ARCHITECT : Cuningham Group Architecture , Inc . CONTRACTOR : Gilbane Building Co . INVESTMENT : $ 150 million
6 CASINO DESIGN 2014