Lucas Oil Live: Excellence in Event Venue Design
Introducing Lucas Oil Live at Winstar World Casino & Resort, a world-class entertainment event venue designed by HBG Design.
Within the Dallas/North Texas resort market, this groundbreaking venue sets a new standard for live performances, blending cutting-edge design with operational efficiency to create a symphony of entertainment.
Guests step into the realm of Lucas Oil Live, where every element is meticulously crafted to amplify the energy pulsating from within. From the moment patrons set foot in the 6,500-seat amphitheater-style arena, they are enveloped in an immersive journey unlike any other. The design narrative unfolds with dynamic LED-lit concourses, guiding patrons towards the heart of the action while mirroring the rhythmic flow of music that awaits them.
Drawing inspiration from the rebellious spirit of rock and roll, Lucas Oil Live exudes a vibrant aesthetic that resonates with the soul of amplified music. Bold angles, colored lights, and distinctive glass elements converge to create a beacon of rock and roll rebellion, distinguishing this venue as a destination experience within the Winstar Campus.
At the core of HBG Design's design philosophy lies a unwavering attention to detail, evident in every aspect of Lucas Oil Live. From the rebellious angles of the architecture to the streamlined customer experience at concessions, every element is carefully curated to ensure that guests can fully immerse themselves in the magic of live entertainment.
The design team's commitment to operational excellence extends beyond the stage, with innovative solutions designed to accommodate a diverse range of events. Whether patrons are enjoying a concert, MMA boxing match, or banquet seating, the venue seamlessly adapts to meet the dynamic demands of any occasion.
And for those seeking the ultimate VIP experience, the Club Level and VIP area offer unrivaled views and luxurious amenities, ensuring that every aspect of the entertainment experience is indulgent and unforgettable.
Unveiling a Tranquil Oasis: WinStar's Spa Tower
Nestled amidst the allure of undulating hills, rolling waters, and the natural setting of South-Central Oklahoma, the captivating new 16-story, 304-key Spa Tower at WinStar World Casino and Resort emerges as a haven of respite and escape.
Merging contemporary elegance with upscale appeal, this boutique-style hotel tower extends an irresistible invitation to guests, transporting them to a 230,000 square foot realm of unrivaled tranquility and indulgence that pays homage to the region’s beauty through its design.
Site Design Inspiration
Drawing inspiration from the breathtaking scenery of the Red River, at the border between Oklahoma and Texas, natural hues and contemporary style converge in the lobby, flowing seamlessly throughout the public spaces.
Throughout the tower, warm wood tones, sleek stone, and metallic accents create a feast for the senses. Stepping into the lobby, the layered composition of different materials and textures adds visual depth and dimension, inviting guests to explore and engage with the designed experience. Axminster carpet ion the lobby features an abstract design of the site’s topography.
As guests venture beyond the lobby, they discover a sanctuary of comfort and relaxation within the guestrooms and suites. Guest rooms draw their inspiration from the rolling plans in display outside the tower’s windows.
Incorporating the latest in immersive spa and wellness trends, the WinStar Spa is a hallmark of modern leisure design. The two-level spa features communal aquathermal bathing and touchless technology, with a size and scale designed to attract customers from nearby Dallas/Ft. Worth and Oklahoma City urban markets. Continuing the fluid aesthetic of the Spa Tower, the WinStar Spa’s design is regional and contemporary, reflecting the texture and form of the local geography in its carpet pattern and overall materiality.
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Embark on a New Era of Resort Amenities: Introducing the Cascades Pool Complex
WinStar World Casino & Resort Redefines Luxury and Entertainment with a Transformative Outdoor Oasis
The Cascades pool complex, the newest casino amenity at WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Oklahoma, emerges as an expansive outdoor retreat for relaxation and entertainment.
Spanning over 5 ½ acres, this meticulously designed pool experience encompasses a series of six exquisite pools, varying types of private cabanas, and seven distinct buildings accommodating bars and lounges, food and beverage and guest services, and retail. Every amenity has been thoughtfully positioned to maximize sunlight and water access and lounging, while offering ample shaded space for social interaction.
Site Design Inspiration
Inspired by the mesmerizing forms of ocean currents and naturally shaped archipelagos, the design of the Cascades pool complex is formed by organic, curvilinear shapes that adjoin to provide intimate lounge and cabana spaces in between. The graceful lines and grotto-like edges of the pools create a sense of harmony and serenity, while white cast stone edging and white and gray integral colored concrete surfaces with a textured salt rock finish offer cool and durable surfaces to help ensure guest comfort and enjoyment. Set within lush landscaping and winding pathways, a multi-level site design creates zones of personalization and exclusivity, whereby the ground level pool experience is maintained for families, and mid-tier and upper tier experiences are reserved for ages 21+ and for VIP guests.
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HBG Dives into the Trend: Pools and Spas at Casino Hotels
See full article in Casino Style Magazine: Everybody into the Pool!
Everybody into the Pool!
More and more, operators are looking to pools and spas to impress their guests. Let’s dive into the trend.
The resort pool has reached its utopia, perhaps best demonstrated by the Circa Stadium Swim, at the Circa resort in Downtown Las Vegas.
There, guests don’t simply loll by the pool. They slide into poolside boxes, water couches, daybeds and lower cabanas. They sip drinks, watch the big game and participate in fantasy-football parties. Massive 40-foot high-definition screens reach skyward, while six pools on three levels augment the luxury experience.
Welcome to the crossroads of luxury, decadence and affluence. Does anyone even want to go swimming anymore?
Stadium Swim is just one example of the surge in pool and spa construction at casino hotels. Besides exuding luxury, they make room for shared experiences. Beverages, saunas, salons and hot tubs are valued amenities, keeping guests happily on property.
Just Say ‘Ahh’
“Spas are an increasingly popular antidote for our stressful world,” says Emily Marshall, IIDA, interior design director and principal at HBG Design. “The more harried life becomes, the more guests are seeking a serene and rejuvenating spa experience.”
The modern spa retreat “is less about opulence, and more about wellness and the way a space makes the guest feel—with more authentic, contextual, holistic design features and smart technology integration that produces distinctiveness and differentiation for the resort.”
HBG Design has created pool and vitality pool environments that connect to the spa, to food-and-beverage venues and to other special events, Marshall says. “These pools are activated for entertainment, integrating dining and beverage service opportunities as separate revenue generators.”
Event-connected pools include the rooftop pool environment at Four Winds South Bend Casino and the Indoor Pool and Events Complex at Gun Lake, now under construction.
“Spas are typically set apart from the gaming amenities as a space for guests to quiet the outside noise and reconnect with themselves,” says Landon Shockey, ASID, HBG’s lead interior designer and spa design specialist. “Successful spa design enchants and indulges all five senses, while emphasizing wellness and presenting experiences that nourish the soul.”
F&B offerings range from café-style light fare and healthy options to seasonal dishes that emphasize the healing benefits of ingredients. Knowing the customer demographic in the specific market often dictates how much of a driver food and beverage becomes in relation to the spa experience.
“We’re also seeing a trend in the design of larger VIP suites that accommodate spa services,” Shockey says. “These suites provide a secluded escape for couples and small groups to partake in extended spa services all within their own private space.”
Healing Springs
The 8,000-square-foot Astral Spa at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort offers a lush, contemporary take on the iconic Hot Springs bathhouse spa, Shockey says, “along with a relaxed nostalgic ambiance that frames each guest’s spa journey through a complete sensory wellness experience.”
Designed by HBG with the Arch Amenity Group and Design for Leisure, the attraction is the first major full-service spa to be designed and built in Arkansas’ famous “Spa City” in more than a century.
Marrying crisp modern lines with historic themes, the spa’s design celebrates the history of Hot Springs and Oaklawn’s thoroughbred horse racing. It features a dedicated 1,925-square-foot women’s spa and a 1,500-square-foot men’s spa, each with distinctly tailored parlors, dressing room areas and aqua-thermal lounges featuring vintage-inspired needle showers that recall historic bathhouses.
Unique hot/cold wellness circuits in the women’s and men’s areas allow guests to “heat, cool, rest, repeat” in vapor rooms, infrared saunas, ice lounges, vitality pools and thermal loungers. “The infrared saunas are the first of their type in the region,” says Shockey.
At the new 317-key hotel, spa and conference and events expansion at Four Winds Casino in South Bend, Indiana, guests are greeted with a “seamlessly beautiful display of contemporary design,” says Paul Bell, AIA, HBG principal and project manager. That look “flows through every space, with a celebration of the Pokagon Tribe’s rich heritage and the natural elements of their native lands,” he adds. “One of the most important cultural elements in this celebration is the red cedar wood that’s prominently featured throughout the property.”
The 10,000-square-foot Cedar Spa, designed by HBG with Blu Spa Consultants, offers a variety of traditional and unique spa therapies in a tranquil, biophilic space designed to fully embrace relaxation, well-being and healing.
Up on the Roof
The soothing experience originates at the spa entrance on the main promenade of the hotel, highlighted by an illuminated ceiling feature appearing as sunlight shining through a canopy of red cedar trees.
Ornate copper ceiling elements allow pockets of light to peek through, creating dancing shadows around the spa entry. Multi-colored lighting introduces serene color palettes into the space.
Floor-to-ceiling screening combines cedar planks mixed with copper blocking and color-changing lighting to create elegant wayfinding from the entry reception and retail area to the treatment corridors.
The unique layout of the spa allows each treatment area to be hidden from the next, granting each guest a private and personalized experience. Guests are guided through the river rock and stacked stone-lined main treatment corridor to reach their desired spa service.
“While some resorts incorporate the pool environment into the spa experience, Four Winds South Bend has made its new rooftop pool deck a central part of their F&B, events and entertainment offerings,” Bell says. The entire third-floor level is dedicated to high-end VIP and hospitality suites that accommodate smaller intimate events, catered parties and VIP receptions.
“Perched on the third-floor VIP and hospitality suite level adjacent to the hotel’s new Edgewater Café bar and restaurant, the pool environment, with its large pool deck, lounge seating and hot tub, becomes an extension of this entertaining space,” says Bell. “The café and the rooftop pool are interconnected through clerestory windows and retractable glass partition walls.”
“While some resorts incorporate the pool environment into the spa experience, Four Winds South Bend has made its new rooftop pool deck a central part of their F&B, events and entertainment offerings,” Bell says. The entire third-floor level is dedicated to high-end VIP and hospitality suites that accommodate smaller intimate events, catered parties and VIP receptions.HBG Design is currently leading the architectural and interior design for the $300 million Phase 5 expansion of Gun Lake Casino in Wayland, Michigan, just south of Grand Rapids.
The Spa Retreat, featuring a spa pool and fitness center, will be located on the lower level of the new hotel expansion, with a palette inspired by nature in the region. The spa pool will offer a relaxing retreat away from the excitement of the casino.
Elevating Events at Four Winds South Bend
See full article in Casino Style Magazine: Winds of Change
Winds of Change
Ribbon Town Conference and Events Center - Four Winds South Bend Casino Resort
There’s a new landmark on the South Bend, Indiana skyline, and it’s awe-inspiring—a towering 23-story glass hotel that glows at sunset with a beautiful copper hue. But this impressive structure is more than a marvel of contemporary architecture; it’s a testament to the Pokagon Tribe’s rich heritage and commitment to providing guests with an unforgettable destination experience.
Four Winds South Bend Casino Resort recently cut the ribbon on an incredible 317-key, 82-suite high-end hotel, spa, F&B, rooftop pool and conference/ events amenity expansion adjoining its popular casino. Conference and meetings industry professionals will be especially thrilled by the new 24,000 square feet of state-of-the-art facilities designed to drive the conference market and soar above the competition.
Ribbon Town is the original Pokagon name for South Bend. This heritage is celebrated in the casino’s new Ribbon Town Conference and Events Center. Guests ascend from the main hotel promenade to the second-floor multi-purpose conference and events space via a dramatic vertical collection of escalators and stairs. Here, guests are treated to a stunning entry experience, complete with a vaulted ceiling and cove lighting wrapped in large copper ring ceiling accents. The theatrical chandelier of suspended metallic shapes is a nod to the region’s Kankakee River and the lily pads that float on its surface.
Designers skillfully blended culturally significant motifs and design elements, such as copper, red cedar wood, birchwood and natural stacked stone to bring guests and visitors closer to the Pokagon Tribe’s heritage and native lands. The event center aesthetic mimics a sunset’s reflection on rippling water, with warm amber, gold, and deep violet hues in lighting fixtures, furnishings, and in the abstracted river pattern of the custom carpet. Stylish wood detailing, neutral accents, and copper accent trim on walls and columns add just the right finishing touches to enhance the venue’s exclusive aesthetic.
The 24,000-square-foot multi-purpose events center features a 10,000-square-foot ballroom with seating for 800, a banquet kitchen and 16 flexible meeting rooms. Expansive windows along the event promenade filter abundant natural light to pre-function spaces with two bars, a lounge seating group, a business center, and an outdoor terrace.
The entire third-floor level is dedicated to elegant VIP and hospitality suites with more intimate venues to host catered parties and VIP receptions. Each suite exudes comfort and approachable luxury, with access to outdoor terraces, some with dedicated whirlpools.
The suites are distinguished in either lighter feminine or darker masculine contemporary design aesthetics and equipped with serving bars, dining room nooks and a Quartzite-wrapped fireplace. Lavish living rooms and bedrooms are accented by furnishings upholstered in velvet and genuine leather, 100 percent wool inset carpeting, coffered and coved ceilings, classic wood paneling and natural stone and wood detailing.
The expansion represents Four Winds’ second phase of growth in South Bend. The design team worked closely with the tribe to help ensure the design flowed cohesively with the Phase 1 casino. A beautiful blend of contemporary architecture and cultural heritage, upscale design and broad mix of entertainment options will offer guests and visitors an exceptional event experience, raising the bar in the region’s conference and meetings industry.
OWNER: Pokagon Tribe
ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN: HBG Design
HBG Thought Leaders Weigh In: Food and Beverage for Casinos
Food Fight
Which is the best addition to your casino—an original food-and-beverage offering, or a branded restaurant with a built-in following?
Despite our many differences in appearance, size, beliefs and dietary preferences, we share a common desire to enjoy good food and quality dining experiences.
In the context of casinos, operators want to procure and provide the perfect blend of food and beverage options to complement their properties and brands; contractors and designers want to build them on a grand scale; and of course, patrons want to enjoy the actual results. The process of selecting and refining that blend is daunting, however. Perhaps the first and most common question operators and architects must ask is whether to invest in an original venue or one with an established brand or celebrity association.
The calculus is like evaluating professional athletes before a draft—an original offering may be seen as a risk with a higher upside potential, whereas a branded operation may have a higher floor but less growth potential.
There’s no one correct answer. A successful dining experience is dependent on service and execution, not a particular name or brand, and there is a litany of good and bad examples for each. Operators also differ in their particular preferences.
As commercial and tribal operators expand and renovate their brick-and-mortar holdings, the debate between branded versus original dining options has more voices and considerations than ever.
Bolstered by Big Names
Opening a new restaurant, in a casino or elsewhere, carries a lot of risk, perhaps more than any other type of development. Thus, branded venues most often represent the safer option because of their consistency. An established platform checks a lot of boxes, which is enticing for operators focused on providing swift returns on investment. They also come with their own costs—mainly in the form of licensing fees—but the expansion of numerous franchises and chefs around the country would indicate that those costs are more than feasible.
“For a while it seemed like expensive branding fees were deterring the introduction of new branded venues into the casino resort,” Bacon continues. “But integrated branding appears to have made a comeback on an even grander scale and commitment.”
"In recent years, there has been continued interest in incorporating established F&B brands into the casino resort environment,” says Dike Bacon, principal at HBG Design. The concept of co-branding with high-profile chefs and companies is “gaining more traction with casinos as a means to broader market appeal and greater name recognition from an expanding customer base.One example of a brand that’s made extensive inroads in the casino space is Rock & Brews (R&B), a brew-pub chain backed by Rock & Roll Hall of Famers and KISS frontmen Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. According to R&B CEO Adam Goldberg, the company, formed in 2010, already boasts a total of 23 locations throughout the U.S., partly thanks to the popularity of the associated artists.
“Having the celebrity stamp of approval means our brand is proven and successful,” Goldberg notes. “With our extensive years in the hospitality industry, we are operators first. Casinos can benefit from our operational expertise, from menus to playlists to art packages and built-in marketing opportunities with other rock stars.”
Alexandra Milkovich, senior interior designer for HBG who helped design the R&B Casino and Restaurant in Braman, Oklahoma, echoes this point. “Having a celebrity name attached to a property is, of course, a great marketing tool for a casino owner,” she says, adding that celebrities and franchises “have a large following of people who want to be part of the next big ‘thing’ in the industry.”
Location, Location
Of all the factors that influence the F&B decision-making process, two are perhaps most important: the location of the venue within the casino and the size of the casino itself. Often, these details will help the process shake out—or, as R2A’s Ruiz puts it, “you can start to peel the layers off the onion.”
“It really varies,” he says. “And what I mean by that is the size of the property—does it have three to five outlets, or does the property have 15 to 20 or 25 or more food-and-beverage outlets? How large is the property? That’s where these things start.”
Renovations and expansions of existing spaces are more common than brand-new builds, which means that casinos often have a predetermined space in which to fit a venue, and there are do’s and don’ts that correspond to that scenario.
As Cuningham’s Houck says, “One of the bigger questions is, what do you want to fill if it’s a large casino? It’s kind of like 101—you don’t put a Mexican place next to another Mexican place. So there is a sense of looking at what’s needed.”
Additionally, changes in patron preferences can make certain concepts outdated, and renovating can allow operators to “remain responsive to changing market conditions and new branding opportunities and to refresh a property’s offerings,” says HBG’s Milkovich.
Casinos big and small are like mini-ecosystems, constantly trying to find the best flow, the best integration of amenities and gaming. As such, companies will vary in their brands and tastes (no pun intended), and architects and designers will work to keep pace with those changes.
“Different clients and different properties have different techniques or theories behind it,” SOSH’s Sochocky explains. “Some clients we work with actually like their top restaurant all the way at the back of a casino, so they can draw people through the casino floor to get to it. Some of our clients like it at the front door… Their gaming floor also has a lot to do with it. It does become a little bit of a game of real estate.”
Regardless of the type of venue, it’s clear that the true beneficiaries are the patrons, the ones who get to fully enjoy the experiences that operators, designers and architects work so hard to create. A truly successful venue is one that can satisfy its target audience, again and again and again.
Unveiling the Cultural Richness of the new Eagle Mountain Casino
AN ENTERTAINMENT ESCAPE:
The new Eagle Mountain Casino connects People to Place.
HBG Design, the architecture and interior design firm behind Eagle Mountain Casino’s new development in Porterville, California, has unveiled a project that offers a fresh interpretation of the culture and heritage of the Tule River Tribe.
Welcome to Eagle Mountain Casino, where Tule River Tribe's culture and heritage are beautifully integrated.
HBG's design concept pays tribute to the tribe, capturing their customs and traditions throughout the casino. Inspired by the scenic Tulare County and Central California, the design reflects a meticulous crafting of boldness, captivating details, and engaging elements.
A variety of tribal basket patterning and motifs highlight ceiling and floor planes and light fixtures, drawing guests through wayfinding paths, to the 1750 machine casino, the Ember Center Bar, The River Steakhouse, The Acorn Diner, The Cedar Food Court, Yokuts Coffee House, and the Redwood Taphouse, and a new 2,000-seat event center. HBG designers merged concepts and elements to create an enticing design environment and approachable luxury for customers.
Click to Read More About the Project
Vertical features symbolize the grandeur of the Giant Sequoia and the majesty of the Golden Eagle, both culturally significant to the tribe. Flowing forms and organic curves echo the Tule River's path, immersing guests in a dynamic environment that harmonizes with nature.
The continuous theme of The Flight of the Butterfly and Quail Tufts unifies the design, flowing from the entry to the gaming area and center bar. The new Eagle Mountain Casino weaves together a vibrant tapestry of cultural elements, taking guests on a visual journey into the heart and spirit of Tule River Tribal heritage.
Four Winds South Bend Elevates its Competitive Edge
SOARING ABOVE THE COMPETITION:
Four Winds South Bend Casino Elevates its Competitive Edge
With New HBG-Designed 23-Story Resort Hotel, Spa, and Event Amenities
HBG Design's longstanding design collaboration with the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians has resulted in a one-of-a-kind resort experience that combines contemporary luxury and highly desired modern hotel, spa, conference/events and gaming amenities within a celebration of heritage that flows through every corner of the resort.
There’s a new landmark on the South Bend, Indiana skyline, and it’s an awe-inspiring sight - a towering 23-story glass hotel that glows at sunset with a beautiful copper hue. But this impressive structure is more than a marvel of contemporary architecture; it's a testament to the Pokagon Tribe's rich heritage and commitment to providing guests with an unforgettable destination experience.
From the moment visitors enter the new 317-key, 82-suite hotel, the 10,000 SF Cedar Spa, the 24,000 SF conference and events expansion at Four Winds South Bend, they are greeted with a seamlessly exquisite display of sophisticated design that flows through every space in a celebration of culture and the natural elements of native lands.
The impact of the new expansion at Four Winds Casino Resort in South Bend, Indiana has been nothing short of profound, as a stunning resort experience for guests seeking respite, a flourishing economic driver for gaming and events, and a remarkable legacy for the Pokagon tribal community.
Click to Read More About the Project
Three Gold Awards for Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort!
We are thrilled to announce that our designs for Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, the Astral Spa at Oaklawn, and the Oak Room & Bar at Oaklawn have all won Gold Awards from the American Society of Interior Designers, South Central Chapter's 'Excellence in Design' Awards Program!
Hospitality/Living - Gold Award: Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort Expansion
Hospitality/Service - Gold Award: Astral Spa at Oaklawn Resort
Hospitality/Service - Gold Award: The Oak Room & Bar at Oaklawn Resort
Many thanks to our incredible team who made these projects possible and proud of the recognition from ASID South Central Chapter. @sc_asid
Gun Lake Casino: Tribal Gaming's Next Wave Integrated Resort
READ THE FULL ARTICLE IN GLOBAL GAMING BUSINESS' TRIBAL GOVERNMENT GAMING MAGAZINE
Tribal Government Gaming Magazine, March 2023
Tribal Casinos 3.0
Integrated resorts were once the bailiwick of Las Vegas and Asia, but today’s tribal casinos are entering that territory eagerly.
Article Excerpt: Loaded Gun
The Gun Lake Casino was just a glimmer in the eye of Michigan’s Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, better known as the Gun Lake Tribe, when the Mashantucket Pequots opened Foxwoods in the early 1990s. In fact, at that time, the Gun Lake Tribe had only just applied for federal recognition, often a long and drawn-out process. But the tribe had all the required history and could back it up, so five years later, it achieved recognition and began the equally arduous process of taking land into trust for a reservation.
Five years after that, the process was concluded and the tribe hired Station Casinos to build and operate the Gun Lake Casino, which opened in 2011, ushering in a new era of economic prosperity. Station built a serviceable casino for the tribe but it quickly realized something larger would be necessary, and the first expansion was under way. Now in phase five of its expansion project, led by current President and CEO Sal Semola, who was hired following the end of the Station management contract, the Gun Lake Casino is about to add a hotel and a pool and events complex with multiple pools and areas for banquets and entertainment.
Semola came on board at the end of phase four and is enthusiastically supporting the fifth. But even phase five is playing catchup, as the two closest competitors will still have larger properties than Gun Lake.
“When I first came on, I came on midway through what was characterized as the phase three expansion, which was rather modest in the sense it was maybe 100 slot machine additions to the casino floor,” Semola says. “But it was really about a connector building for a parking garage that was needed in anticipation of meeting the needs of future expansions due to the increased traffic and also the depletion of existing surface parking.
“And then phase four, which we just completed in September 2021, consisted of three new F&B outlets and began to set the table for phase five.”
Paul Bell, the lead architect for HBG Design, says the expansion was a reaction to the desires of Gun Lake tribal leadership.
“The Gun Lake owners have set their sights on creating a premier entertainment destination resort in the Midwest,” says Bell. “They want to expand their catchment zone to include larger cities as far away as Chicago and Detroit. I think this fifth phase will create that true super-regional resort with an expansion program designed to drive that traffic in from both of those metropolitan areas.”
Semola explains the location of Gun Lake Casino and why it has been necessary to constantly grow.
“We are just outside of Grand Rapids located off highway 31, which is the north-south artery for Western Michigan,” he says. “So it’s highly trafficked, and we’re equidistant between Grand Rapids, which is the second-largest city in the state, and Kalamazoo, Michigan as well.”
Semola says that the area is growing quickly.
“Our area is somewhat rural—we’re in the town of Wayland—but in just the time that I’ve been here, we’ve seen a lot of growth and development in the area. Even the airport—Grand Rapids International Airport—is undergoing an expansion. And Grand Rapids itself is kind of moving south towards where the casino’s located. So, they’ll continue to benefit from that growth as well.”
Although phase five is the first project that HBG, which has 40-plus other tribal clients, is doing with the Gun Lake tribe, Bell is already impressed with the leadership.
“I and many of my colleagues here at HBG Design we’ve realized that competition in most markets continues to be intense,” he says. “Progressive owners are always elevating their amenity offerings to keep up with that. While the casinos will always have their bread-and-butter patrons at the resort, we also see a continuing trend of owners working to attract more diverse, multi-generational customers through unique out-of-the-box non-gaming amenities, the pool and events complex being a prime example of this.
“In addition, retail, other non-gaming entertainment brings in all ages of people to fit this goal. Owners create through this, these opportunities, a lot more revenue and continue to stay relevant and top-of-mind in the market.”
Bell praises tribal leadership for bringing their vision to the tribal economy. They are currently developing a non-gaming mixed-use development on tribal land that will diversify the economy.
Semola agrees about the foresight of tribal leadership.
“The tribal leaders are extremely forward-thinking,” he says. “I think that when you take into account that they’ve only been on their own, outside of the umbrella of a management company for four years, they’re much further along in terms of that cycle of evolution, in terms of how they look at business and the future. So, as tribal gaming enterprises become more mature over time, they realize that there’s economic opportunities that they can comfortably participate in outside of the sovereignty umbrella, and they become more comfortable investing in that area.”
Bell also credits Semola as being a driving force behind the gaming expansion.
“He has been an absolute joy to work with,” says Bell. “He is a very fun, energetic leader. He’s extremely passionate, an entrepreneurial leader for Gun Lake. He has been engaged in the design process from the beginning. He’s really a key driver in Gun Lake’s long-term development vision.
“I believe beyond what we’re working on with him right now, the current phase five project, as he is constantly looking ahead for new opportunities to identify the next big thing that will attract the market to Gun Lake Casino Resort and maintain a cutting-edge position across the industry and marketplace.”
Semola says the idea for the pool and events complex came to him while he was at a conference at Harrah’s Atlantic City, which has a similar facility, a dome over several pools and hot tubs. But the pool and events complex is different, he says.
“The pool and events complex is designed to be a multi-purpose atrium, and it has three pools. It has a family-oriented pool which is located adjacent to a concession snack bar and some locker rooms. It also has an adult pool that is tiered with a VIP-level pool with a swim up-bar. That creates this great vibrant environment during the day—hot or cold seasons—where their guests can come and enjoy the aqua elements.
“But at night, this facility then converts over to an entertainment facility that is able to provide live performances as well, and sell VIP cabanas and so forth around the pool for those live concerts or DJ dance events, whatever type of entertainment we would choose to engage in based upon their market feasibility and entertainment preferences.”
The tribe chose the right designer for this kind of element—Bell says that although the idea for the pool and events complex came from the tribe, HBG has lots of examples.
“We have done massive atriums in the past for Gaylord resort properties,” Bell says. “One in Orlando, the Gaylord Palms, and we did another one in Grapevine, Texas called the Gaylord Texan. Those were much larger than this. So we have learned through those project experiences how to design a dynamic atrium environment.
“Now while those were designed for a completely different purpose than what this one is designed for, we went to the school of hard knocks on both of those projects. The shape of the pool and events complex really is derived from all the sun angles and site analysis to create an optimal environment for indoor swimming and aquatic activities during the day.”
Semola wanted more from the pool and events complex than just swimming, however.
“We were focused on building a hotel convention space and the pool and events complex, all three of those pieces, from a construction standpoint, from a financial performance standpoint, and without question, the pool and events complex modeled the best,” Semola says. “But what it didn’t give us was that even playing field as it pertains to some of the other casinos in the area, where they could do a sit-down concert or a large banquet. We needed a 2,000-capacity event type of space. So looking at the [complex], the challenge was how, do we get as much versatility in that space as possible?
“Ultimately working with the HBG design team, we came up with the idea of the pools being pushed out of the center, not just one pool, but multiple pools pushed out, which opened up the center. So now we can have that sight line for those types of concerts, or we can just make it a party with a DJ—your typical nightlife. For banquets, we built a production kitchen where we can easily accommodate up to 800 people. We are just looking to try to create as much versatility and utility value out of the space as possible. And I’m really happy with the way that it’s evolved thus far.”
READ THE FULL ARTICLE IN GLOBAL GAMING BUSINESS' TRIBAL GOVERNMENT GAMING MAGAZINE