Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana • Gary , Indiana
Music royalty came out in force last May to mark the grand opening of the new Hard Rock Northern Indiana , owned by Spectacle Entertainment and operated by Hard Rock International .
Members of the legendary Jackson 5 were on hand for the traditional guitarsmashing ceremony , after which the doors opened to an all-new state-of-the-art entertainment center .
Located in Gary , Indiana , near the South Shore of Lake Michigan , Hard Rock brings world-class gaming to the Hoosier State , and the first land-based casino to Indiana ’ s northwest gaming corridor . SOSH Architects , the architect of record and exterior design lead , collaborated with interior designers the Friedmutter Group on a vision for the property , which serves up Hard Rock style at every turn .
Spanning 215,000 square feet , the new property offers a gaming floor with 1,600 slot machines and 80 table games . Its five restaurant offerings include the upscale Council Oak Steaks and Seafood , and the signature Hard Rock Café . The complex also features a Hard Rock-branded retail shop and a 2,000-seat cuttingedge entertainment venue , Hard Rock LIVE .
The fun begins at the entryway , where visitors are welcomed by a 37-foot-tall guitar sign , modeled on an instrument owned by Jackson family patriarch Joe Jackson . Inside , they ’ re greeted by a spectacular guitar chandelier and some 170 pieces of music memorabilia showcased throughout the casino . Gary natives the Jacksons are well represented ; guests can view Michael Jackson ’ s iconic glove and his red leather jacket from the “ Beat It ” video . Mementoes from other Indiana artists , including John Mellencamp and Axl Rose , are also on display .
“ Music is inherent in the brand ,” said Jeff Clayton , director of entertainment at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana , at the grand opening . “ The intention is to serve all genres , all types of fans . ‘ All Is One ’ is part of our motto , and we plan to be very diverse in that context .”
Groundbreaking on the property took place in January 2020 , and construction continued throughout the pandemic . The site leaves room for future growth , including a hotel and parking garage .
Greg Gibson , vice president of Spectacle Entertainment , hailed the facility as “ a product of much hard work and those who believed the city of Gary was destined for greater things .”
OWNER : Spectacle Entertainment OPERATOR : Hard Rock International ARCHITECT OF RECORD , EXTERIOR DESIGN : SOSH Architects INTERIOR DESIGN : Friedmutter Group CONTRACTOR : TN Ward INVESTMENT : $ 300 million
Crystal Visions
Crystal Lobby Attraction • Galaxy Macau
PHOTO CREDIT : © JEFFREY TOTARO , 2021
Visitors to Galaxy Macau will likely stop in their tracks on entering the resort lobby . Invariably , all eyes are drawn to the centerpiece of the space , a resplendent new Crystal Lobby Attraction , created by experiential design leader the Hettema Group .
Crafted of 360,000 pieces of Bohemian crystal , the animated , kinetic structure features 32 dancing fountains , eight leaping water jets , a vast moving ceiling of 24 overlapping crystal-clad petals , and 12 rotating crystal chandeliers , all synchronized to original music .
Galaxy Macau demanded an attraction of this magnitude . The palatial resort , steps from Old Taipa Village on the Cotai Strip , spans 5.9 million square feet . It is known for luxurious , sometimes over-the-top appointments , including a Grand Resort Deck with the world ’ s largest Sky Wave Pool , as well as Skytop Adventure Rapids and a white-sand beach .
To create the attraction , the California-based Hettema Group used 360,000 pieces of crystal with 720,000 fixing pins , all of which were applied by hand . It took approximately 12,500 hours ( about 520 days ) to affix the individual pieces to the main attraction . The effect is unexpected , stunning , and simply breathtaking . The spectacular attraction is bound to be one of the most photographed and shared features of this five-star resort .
OPERATOR : Galaxy Entertainment Group DESIGNER : The Hettema Group DEBUTED : December 2021
12 CASINO STYLE 2021