Eagle Mountain Casino by HBG Design
Aspire at Mohegan Sun by R2 Architects
which Mohegan enlisted R2Architects . “ What makes this project really stand out is that while we were designing and documenting , and they were already starting to do the renovations in this tower — the Sky Tower is very tall , 36 stories — Massachusetts had a couple casinos coming online ,” says Ruiz .
“ So the leadership at Mohegan knew that this was going to potentially shift some tectonic plates . And they didn ’ t take it sitting down ; they were very proactive .” The result was Aspire , the luxury hotel within the overall Mohegan resort complex . R2Architects transformed a 5,000-square-foot former bus terminal into an exclusive check-in area for Aspire .
“ We created a new vehicular car canopy at the bottom of the Sky Tower , around the corner from the main hotel front desk canopy ,” Ruiz says . “ We created a really special front desk for folks that are staying for the Aspire experience .”
That is billed as a premium hotel experience , centered on the upper floors — including the reimagined Sky Club , a beautiful lounge on the 33rd floor . “ If you have the credentials ,” says Ruiz , “ you get to hang out there , have snacks , have drinks . But we also brought table games into the lounge , so there ’ s a really high-end , unique intimate experience that goes on up there .”
Don ’ t Forget the Parking
Historically , one of the highest returns on non-gaming investment in the casino business has been the parking facility . “ Parking structures are huge ,” says Nejelski at TBE Architects . “ It ’ s all about guest convenience . If you ’ re living in a climate that gets a lot of snow , a lot of rain or a lot of sun , a parking structure allows you to get under cover . It also shortens the distance between your parking space and a slot machine . So , they ’ re a pretty good return on investment .”
“ Parking garages are important because they are directly tied to guest convenience ,” says Peak at HBG . “ Customer convenience amenities typically see significant return on investment . By minimizing handle-to-handle distances , owners can provide quick and easy access straight to the gaming floor . Parking garages are even more important in Northern climates , to protect guests from adverse weather conditions .”
Parking facilities are one more way casino resorts are using non-gaming elements to draw and keep customers . “ Non-gaming amenities contribute to revenue , but their primary value lies in their ability to attract diverse guests and extend guest stay on property ,” say HBG ’ s Peak . “ Consider a guest attending a
Designing Tribal
Tribal heritage important in planning non-gaming amenities
One important aspect of designing non-gaming amenities for tribal casinos is a sensitivity to tribal culture and heritage . “ Tribal culture , tradition and heritage is the essence that makes up the brand that is that specific tribe ,” says Paul Heretakis , vice president of Westar Architectural Group . “ It ’ s what differentiates them from a neighboring tribe . That could be said of all successful casinos . You want people to walk through the door and immediately get a strong feeling of who you are and what you are offering your customers to make them happy and enjoy their visit .”
“ Within the overarching design narrative , cultural elements , often abstractly interpreted , serve as unique identifiers for the tribal community , and function as distinctive design features that set the gaming experience apart for customers ,” says Nathan Peak , principal and practice leader for HBG Design .
Examples of this principle can be found in any number of tribal projects . Peak points out the new 105,000-square-foot Eagle Mountain Casino , operated by the Tule River Tribe in Porterville , California . “ Soaring vertical features recall the majesty of the giant sequoia and the golden eagle , each important symbols of tribal culture ,” he says . “ Flowing forms recall the winding Tule River and organic curves of nature . A variety of tribal basket patterning and motifs highlight ceiling and floor planes and light fixtures , drawing guests through wayfinding paths to the 1,750-machine casino .”
“ Ak-Chin was one of the most successful collaborations that we had on a project ,” says David Nejelski , vice president , creative director and principal of TBE Architects . “ They established an art design committee comprised of tribal members . Some of the tribal members that were on that committee are significant people in the council right now . And they worked with us on the concepting and the development of all of the elements that are in Ak-Chin from a tribal representation standpoint .”
major music event . They are seeking a comprehensive entertainment experience from the moment they arrive . The emphasis is not solely on ticket sales but on providing guests with a multi-layered experience that generates revenue throughout the property .
“ This makes it crucial that gaming and non-gaming amenities are properly planned and designed for convenience , open sight lines to revenue-generating venues ... and for excitement .”
26 TRIBAL GOVERNMENT GAMING 2024