We spoke with John Hinton, Principal, Director of Native American Projects, Bergman Walls & Associates; Brett K. Ewing, Principal and Executive Director, Cuningham; David Nejelski, Principal, Creative Director, TBE Architects; Mike Larson, Architect and Project Director, JCJ Architecture; Andrew Kreft, Executive Senior Principal/Director of Design, Lifescapes International.
What major aesthetic trends mark this still young decade of casino design?
Brett K. Ewing: From the Las Vegas Strip to tribal lands, gaming resorts are seeking to include more immersive and dynamic experiences to make their properties stand out. An example is Cuningham’s recent work as Architect of Record on the redesign of Aria’s Sky Villas, a AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star destination, which blends richly textured interiors with a full complement of exceptional services that further cement Aria as the standard for luxury on the Las Vegas Strip. Design features include colorful furnishings, unique seating spaces, art deco-inspired bathrooms with waterfall steam showers, and full kitchens that allow guests to hire a celebrity chef to prepare a personal meal for them inside their villa.
David Nejelski: Digital media continues to become more and more integrated into the guest experience at all levels, from large scale impact features to brand identity. Interactive multi-media can now blend messaging with the aesthetic environment, as well as guest connectivity through their personal devices. Also, many decades long standards in gaming design have had to be revamped in the post Covid-19 era. Guests have different expectations. Lower gaming density and a shift away from the traditional buffet in lieu of lower contact dining choices are just a few.
Andrew Kreft: So much of this decade thus far has been impacted by the pandemic, and design focuses on creating the perception of a safe and healthful environment. Fresh air and patios have been imperative, with so many venues extending their space to the outdoor environment. Landscape blurs the lines between indoors and out, allowing plants to become part of the architecture and spatially weave natural light and air through the design so that guests never feel like they are trapped in a box.
John Hinton: When you think of a traditional casino, you likely imagine something theatrical and kitschy, dimly lit to focus on the games and disorienting to discourage people from leaving. Not anymore. In my work with operators and Native tribes, today’s consumer craves more options, more entertainment, and new levels of service and design.
Over the past decade, gaming spaces have evolved faster than almost any other amenity. Operators must continually provide something unique, both in design and aesthetics, as well as experiences that bring customers back.
Millennial gamers in particular have mastered the art of multi-tasking and demand the same of their environments: dynamic, highly-refined, high-energy, interactive spaces that offer something new and exciting at every turn to meet their high expectations. Designing for this new generation requires an integrated approach that incorporates a casino’s basic functional requirements – from the guest experience to back-of-house and security
– along with exceptional design for hotels, restaurants, clubs and beyond.
Contemporary casino design now focuses on elevated luxury everywhere, not only in high-limit areas, and light, fresh, modern materials. Advancements in glass, resin and other surfaces can incorporate more artistic textures and colors than ever. Covid-19 also highlighted health and safety concerns. Patrons want more space between one another and protective shields should look like they were meant to be there. Variety is also essential. Dynamic food and beverage components can serve as focal points, rather than being located around the periphery. Gaming tables also can be dispersed to create design elements and visual interest throughout.
Mike Larson: We are seeing a more thoughtful and sophisticated approach to conveying the property’s brand throughout both exterior and interior architecture. Operators are more knowledgeable than ever when it comes to their core customers and they are leveraging this data to request designs that will both reinforce their brands while making their guests feel at home. Even if the feeling of comfort is 'aspirational' to the guest, they will still feel a sense of belonging in these environments.
Additionally, there’s a growing attempt at being mindful of the casino’s location and of how to incorporate that into the design. This is not theming, but an effort to use local influences and materials to inspire the design and make for a unique expression of the brand in a specific location. This is often accomplished with a rich but clean expression of a contemporary design aesthetic. These shapes, materials and geometries also support current trends toward obvious cleanliness and the desire for operational ease of cleaning in a post-Covid-19 environment.
From the perspective of programming and overall guest experience, the trend toward a more seamless integration of gaming, entertainment, sports, and food & beverage offerings continues. Properties are looking to capitalize on the continued blurring of the lines between sports and entertainment to become a natural nexus of those things to their customers. The result is myriad of complementary experiences for individuals and groups which aim to satisfy diverse entertainment demand.
For the layperson, how is the design of an integrated resort different from a casino?
Brett K. Ewing: Rather than a singular, gaming-specific space, an integrated resort considers a guest’s comfort from the moment they wake up to when they go to sleep. By combining hospitality with destination entertainment design, an integrated resort provides guests with everything they want before they even realize they want it. To successfully anticipate guests’ needs, designers work with clients to understand their goals, target market, and local resources. By putting themselves in guests’ shoes, designers can predict a guest’s needs, on and off the gaming floor. An example of an integrated resort Cuningham worked on as Architect of Record is the latest expansion at Viejas Casino & Resort, one of Southern California’s most popular gaming destinations. In addition to the casino, the project’s centerpiece is the Willows Hotel and Spa, a luxurious 159-room, five-story, all-suites hotel. Inspired by the beauty of the surrounding valley, the design integrates nature with an abstract interpretation of the landscape expressed in rich wood finishes, soft neutral tones, and bursts of gold. The hotel includes a 7,000-square-foot spa and a 3,000-square-foot exterior pool with beach entry and a pool bar. New food and beverage concepts are also part of the expansion.
David Nejelski: The integrated resort seeks to create a stay-and-play experience. Guests may stay for several days or over a weekend as opposed to just visiting the local casino for the evening. This significantly expands the effective market depth a property can tap into. Integrated resorts offer a wide variety of gaming, dining and entertainment experiences to ensure that not only everything a guest could want is available and convenient, but also to offer new experiences which make the visit memorable.
Andrew Kreft: A casino caters to what the gamer/guest needs for a drop in/day trip or an overnight stay. On the other hand, an integrated resort provides numerous diverse offerings: food & beverage, entertainment, event, convention space, spa, gym and swimming pool destinations that are conveniently woven together in one property, encouraging guests to come and stay for numerous days.The goal of an integrated resort is to offer its guests so many choices they never feel like they need to leave the property during their extended stay. They are provided enough choices that cater to their every mood.
John Hinton: Integrated resorts feature a wide range of amenities, including retail, spas, health clubs, pools, nightclubs, bars, restaurants, lounges, showrooms, conference and exhibition space and, of course, a casino. An integrated resort is not a property where the casino is just another amenity, nor is it just a big casino. The important thing is that there are many things to see and do in the integrated resort, but the casino is the main attractor. Bergman, Walls & Associates’ founder Joel Bergman produced the first one with The Mirage in Las Vegas.
When designing an integrated resort:
- Minimize walking distances between all the components.
- Consolidate facility services with a shared loading dock and distribution center.
- Service to the hotel, restaurants, bars and the casino should not cross paths with guests and patrons. Be efficient, with the shortest distance possible for service and staff.
- Consolidate parking and provide easy access to all venues.
- Hotel guests want views of the surrounding area, so make sure other components do not obstruct views, or that views won’t include a sea of rooftop mechanical units.
- Use of rooftops to create useable space for memorable events.
- Make the casino part of the shared experience for the other amenities.
Mike Larson: While both facilities have some common design characteristics, an integrated resort (IR) should provide a cohesive, efficient, and thoughtful design that supports an extended guest experience across a number of amenities throughout the days in which a guest might be on property. The longer-stay guest at an IR will want convenient access to more diverse amenities at various times of day, and this often will mean linking the functions of differentamenities for combined experiences. The higher number of amenities at an IR, along with these combined experiences, can increase the overall design challenge in some ways but will have tremendous impact on the guest experience.An IR, while cohesively designed, will also offer different energies to the guests throughout their stay – at times restful and relaxing and at other times dynamic and exciting. This appeals to a guest over a longer time frame, allowing them to leave feeling that they’ve accomplished more in their time away. These varied experiences across the property also support diverse guest profiles to include both leisure and business travelers. This all compares to a casino-only experience that will be more intense and exciting, which is generally palatable for a shorter duration.
How is digitalization altering the design of casinos?
Brett K. Ewing: Casino resort owners are looking to enhance their properties to appeal to customers of the future who want more immersive experiences that take advantage of the latest technology. Successful modern casino designs help guests bridge the physical and digital divide. Designers should look for ways to make digital experiences more comfortable and visually appealing. For instance, Cuningham recently completed a Caesars Sportsbook at the Spokane Tribe Casino in Washington that offers a visually dynamic space where guests can observe games from all angles of the casino floor. Cuningham designed a custom 86-foot LED screen with a high pixel count and a curved scrolling sports ticker that maximizes the visual impact across the space. The curved shape is inspired by the Tribe’s history as a river people and mimics the flow of water. By combining the dining, sports betting, and bar elements into a single venue, this area is transformed into a welcoming part of the casino floor with a direct connection that increases engagement from fans. This multi-use venue also utilized a smaller footprint, maximizing the return on investment.
David Nejelski: The increase in technology throughout a casino, from entertainment and guest services to the games themselves, continues to expand the space required to accommodate servers and control systems. New infrastructure often requires the inclusion of specialized consultants to the design and construction team to properly integrate new technologies.
Andrew Kreft: This doesn’t really apply to landscape architecture.
John Hinton: There is no denying that digitalization has impacted casino design. Online casinos which allow their users to play casino games from the comfort of their own homes, are accessible at any time and any place. Moreover, there’s no need to think about the dress code when using an online casino. You just need to have a decent internet connection to have fun. As well, the online gambling industry also offers endless variety. That’s something land-based casinos fail to provide because of physical limitations. How many games can you possibly find in your local casino? Chances are, the answer is between 20 and 30, and the online platform of the same casino may offer more than 300 games.
However, there are still plenty of customers who prefer to gamble in a social or communal environment. This is providing a prime opportunity to redesign underperforming spaces into gaming or sports lounges that attract new customers and new revenue streams, and for developing other amenities and experiences that attract and keep guests on the property. Digitalization also requires more technical support. There needs to be space allocated for larger and climate-controlled server rooms within the facility.
Mike Larson: The onslaught of digitization, iGaming, and online sports betting has had a large impact on the gaming industry, including casino design. When it comes to casino design, the end game is to create the ultimate in-person experience – one that will keep customers visiting the physical space, despite the ease and convenience of digital gaming. In a post-Covid-19, hyper-digitized world, there is a strong desire for human connection and social interaction that cannot be satisfied through online gaming. Casino design will continue to cater to an array of in-person experiences, whether for individual players, small groups, or larger social outings and events. In some cases, we are seeing physical spaces serve as a 'bridge' to the digital gaming world, as gaming brands work to promote their digital offerings and, thereby, a continuous connection to the customer base through iGaming products, events and loyalty programs. This digitization also allows for a more expeditious functionality of many facets of guest interaction, whether it be at the cage, placing a bet on a game or managing your loyalty rewards. In most cases, casinos still offer the traditional face-to-face interaction, but increasingly we are planning zones and locations for self-service kiosks which are preferred by many guests and also streamline operations for the properties.
How have supply chain issues stifled construction?How long are these expected to continue?
Brett K. Ewing: Each of us has been impacted by supply chain issues, from delayed delivery of purchases to inflation for goods and services. Similarly, in the design industry we see that costs for materials are higher and delivery options for items can be challenging. To minimize the impact of costs and delays on our clients, we strive to be more flexible when selecting materials to help us reach their budget and timeline goals. While there is no crystal ball to know when supply chain issues will be eased, there is some good news. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York releases a Global Supply Chain Pressure Index (GSCPI) each month. In July 2022, the index fell for the third straight month, hitting its lowest point since January 2021. We hope that with travel restrictions easing and more options to get back to work safely in the pandemic, this trend will continue with a positive impact on the budget and material availability for construction projects – and ultimately, our clients.
David Nejelski: Effectively responding to supply chain issues can be difficult since it is a continually evolving reality today. Construction materials that historically have always been readily available may be in high demand and difficult to acquire. If material procurement has not adequately anticipated these newfound shortages, projects can have significant delays in completion and budget increases. Early acquisition and warehousing of certain materials is sometimes necessary. Good communication and planning between ownership, design and construction can sequence aspects of a project to factor in unusually long lead time items within the critical path and minimize delays.
Andrew Kreft: Anyone’s guess how long the supply chain issues will impact construction, but they are impacting the design and specification process of materials and elements (finishes, pottery, furniture, etc.) on every job. Our clients for US-based projects currently in design and construction are often directing us to use materials (domestic or imported) that either are already in stock in warehouses in North America or are solely manufactured in the US to avoid overseas production and freight delays. Design choices (certain paving, finishes, pottery etc.) have been altered, and sometimes the look of specific areas has been adjusted to accommodate what
is available.
John Hinton: Shortages have led to skyrocketing prices for wide range of building materials, and schedule delays have extended facility opening dates. Supply chain issues are also causing longer construction durations, which has also led to increased costs.I have not yet seen a significant reduction in construction projects, and most operators are moving ahead on their projects for the remainder of 2022. We will see what happens in 2023.The time it takes to acquire materials such as glass and steel has stretched from weeks to months, (shortages and lead times are averaging 18 to 24 weeks for almost all types of building products) forcing contractors to delay construction deadlines. Uncertainty about the availability of materials is complicating business for construction companies as they try to price out bids and meet project guidelines. Ordering necessary supplies with ample lead time for delivery before their use in projects will help mitigate the risk of having to overpay and delay projectsMost experts say the supply chain issues will continue through 2022 and likely into 2023. They also expect conditions to improve gradually, so shortages could continue for some items into 2024.
Mike Larson: The supply chain issues of the last couple years continue to be a challenging aspect to the design process. We are seeing some pretty dynamic changes in what the critical path items may be. Whereas a number of months ago, steel may have been the critical path, now that may be walk-in coolers or operable wall systems. What remains consistent is that the design and procurement processes now anticipate challenges in some area of the project and the need to make accommodations to adjust for them. As for how long these challenges will exist, there appears to be differing mid-to-long-term arcs to the problems. In the mid-term, certain building materials and fabrication will ebb and flow in response to the shorter-term domestic economic conditions and building activity. We’re seeing some improvement here versus even a year ago, but there is still uncertainty. Longer-term, the risk for ongoing supply chain disruption for materials coming from overseas is much greater and harder to solve. The challenge around silicon chip production is well known as we’re seeing an explosion in building components requiring this technology, from LED screens to food service equipment. However, we’ve seen a significant amount of on-shoring of FF&E manufacturing with great success. In solving the supply chain/shipping issue, owners are also seeing higher quality products, albeit not at the prices of the past.
