ing your employees , your customers ? So , the trend on furnishings is using cleanable fabrics .”
One of the models being followed in this effort is the health care setting . “ Those fabrics can basically withstand anything ,” Long says , “ and they ’ re anti-microbial — they actually don ’ t promote the growth of things in them , whereas other fabrics do . So , we ’ re seeing more and more of a trend toward that type of fabric . But what makes it difficult is they ’ re not as pretty . Think of a hospital . When you go to a hospital and sit in the waiting room , it ’ s not the glitziest-looking fabric .”
Long says one of the biggest challenges for furniture manufacturers is to combine anti-microbial fabrics with the classy look required for casino usage . “ There are companies that do accept the challenge , and the interior designers will work towards getting that type of spec , looking at those manufacturers , to be able to meet those standards . So , those are questions that we ask our fabric companies . What fabrics do you use that are used in health care settings ? Can you make that fabric in this style ? Can you get that design ?”
Long says senior living facilities provide another model for this combination in seating materials . “ If you look at senior living , you ’ ll see a shift to more hospitality design , more comfortable design . They had started that , but it had never been used in casinos . It ’ s the durability that ’ s needed in a casino . The rough and tumble , we ’ re going to sit there , we ’ re going to spill a drink on it every 10 minutes . We ’ re going to to abuse it , 24 / 7 .”
Manufacturers like Gary Platt are meeting this challenge , which in today ’ s environment goes along with catering to casino properties with significantly trimmed capital budgets .
“ This ( effort ) is ongoing , and our designers are constantly educating themselves about new products and technologies .”
— Andrew Kreft , Director of Design , Lifescapes International
“ In today ’ s challenging environment , casinos want to be careful with their capital spend and ensure they are getting value for their money ,” notes Esposito . “ To that end , durability becomes more important every day , because casinos want their chairs to last long into the future .
“ Of course , in the current pandemic , safety is paramount . We are partnering with fabric suppliers to recommend the safest , easiest-to-clean fabrics for casinos . In addition , we have developed cleaning protocol to share with our customers to ensure our chairs are also the safest on the market .”
Another area of casino design that is affecting FF & E in the Covid-19 era is the outdoor venue . As more casinos turn to outdoor amenities for a safer alternative during the pandemic , planning for these areas continues to evolve .
“ With the impact on attendance at casino resorts due to Covid-19 , design considerations have to include quantities of chaise lounges for the pool areas ,” says Andrew Kreft , director of design for landscape architects Lifescapes Inter-
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