Indian Gaming Magazine features Desert Diamond West Valley Casino Resort

See article in Indian Gaming Magazine

Located in the heart of a bustling entertainment and sports district on the west side of the Phoenix Metro area, the new Desert Diamond West Valley Casino – owned and operated by the Tohono O’odham Nation – is developed around the core concept of a truly unique entertainment experience for regional gaming patrons.

Designed by national casino resort designers, HBG-Hnedak Bobo Group, the firm completed a master plan for a larger proposed casino resort development, planned as a significant amenity within the surrounding West Valley entertainment district.

As phase one of the casino resort complex, the 50,000 square foot casino opened to excited crowds-numbering well over 3,000 guests-on December 19, 2015. The new casino offers a full Class 2 gaming experience with 1089 gaming machines, an edge bar, and a 75-seat food court. The casino and future phases are being constructed on a greenfield site, former agricultural land south of 95th and Northern Avenues in Maricopa County.

“The phase one casino will ultimately complement the overall future resort aesthetic, but will stand-out among subsequent phases with its own unique design and structure,” says Rob Lee, AIA, principal at HBG and project manager for the project.

According to HBG lead designers, Thor Harland and Emily Marshall, IIDA, the angular exterior elevation merges materiality, from its array of soft green and white tiled accents that form the centerpiece to the multi-hued stone at columns and base. Materials combine to form a beautiful contrast against the desert backdrop, gracefully beckoning guests toward the exciting entertainment experience found within.

 “Visually, the casino exterior applies a subtle contemporary palette of cool, earthy green tones within an interpretive desert vernacular that speaks to the surrounding region,” says Harland.

Designers chose simple elements without relying on ornamentation. Strong angles found in the Arizona landscape inspired the geometry found within, and are incorporated into the custom lighting, fabric patterns and detail wall accents.

“The high quality casino interiors incorporate a more masculine palette of bright blues, greens, reds, golds and silvers,” adds Marshall. The color palette is enlivened by internally-illuminated, custom-designed circular and trapezoidal lighting elements, which intertwine and hang prominently from an open ceiling plane. Varying lighting styles highlight different gaming and food and beverage zones.

This play of curving and angular geometry is seen clearly at the edge bar, a focal point on the casino floor, which is highlighted by a dramatic, patterned back-bar wall featuring integrated lighting details.

The attention to every detail was deliberate, from the types of slot machines and where they were placed in the facility to the open aisles and the chairs.

Gaming floor chairs were custom-made at a height and style that matches where a patron feels most comfortable sitting, offering wider bottoms and wider backs and comfortable cushioning. Additionally, the aisles between the rows of gaming machines, at 14 feet wide, are two to three feet wider than in most casinos, designed to offer greater accessibility.

The present casino is planned to revert to use as warehouse support space once the larger casino resort experience opens. Because of the transitional nature of the phase one casino, designers used an abundance of sustainable materials, including carpeting made from recycled materials. Paint was used instead of a typical vinyl wall covering, and fixtures were designed to be transportable to the future casino development.

To smartly plan for future expansion, the infrastructure was put in place now to support the full resort build-out to come. The phase one casino is part of an approximately 150,000- square-foot building that houses equipment, furnishings, generators, office workers, heating and cooling towers, security systems, and employee lockers and check-in stations.

“The phase one casino groundbreaking was held in August 2014, and the project construction took just 16 months from start to finish,” says Lee. “Working with the Tohono O’odham Nation and Desert Diamond Casino in this endeavor has been very fulfilling; and our team is enthusiastic about moving forward with future phases.”

Quote from the client:

Treena Parvello, Director of Public Relations and Communications for the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, said “The Enterprise prides itself on developing lasting partnerships with its projects.  Hnedak Bobo Group has proven to be a great partner and their extensive experience with Native communities served them well in dealing with the Tohono O’odham Nation.  This project also included multiple external challenges, all of which required HBG to work quickly and remain agile.  We could not be more pleased with the quality and professionalism HBG demonstrated throughout this process.”


The word is out: HBG’s hometown Memphis, TN, is the next ‘Hot Southern City’!

From its eclectic arts districts, its nationally acclaimed chef-driven restaurants, its family-friendly activities, and dedicated schools focused on a wide variety of learning needs, the word is out about Memphis, Tennessee. HBG has the inside track, of course. Memphis has been our hometown since our founding in 1979. Take a look at the latest article about Memphis in Travel and Leisure magazine, and check back for our series on ‘What Makes Memphis Great’. We want you to love Memphis as much as we do!


Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino holds topping off ceremony today for HBG-designed phase II building expansion

The Seneca Nation of New York will be joined by Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown and leaders of the casino company this afternoon for a ceremonial “topping-off,” as the steel frame of the building reaches its apex, according to The Buffalo News.

On January 14, leaders from the Seneca Nation and Seneca Gaming Corporation, joined representatives from the business and construction communities, elected officials, and others in kicking off the project with an official groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a 28,500-square-foot addition. The expansion will increase the existing casino by more than 42 percent to 95,500-square-feet on the South Park Avenue side of the complex, and feature additional retail, restaurant, and gaming space.

Read more about the HBG-designed expansion project HERE, as well as in the World Casino Directory, WGRZ and WKBW.

HBG also designed the phase I casino project for the Seneca Nation.


HBG a Proud Supporter of ZeroLandfill 2016

HBG is a proud supporter of ZeroLandfill™ Memphis, which is an award winning upcycling program held seasonally that supports the supply needs of local artists, teachers and non-profits while reducing pressure on local landfill capacity.

HBG interior designers  have collected and saved a year’s worth of samples to donate, diverting these materials from the local landfill. To find out more about ZeroLandfill™ visit zerolandfill.net.


HBG's Dike Bacon Weighs in on the Evolution of Indian Gaming

http://issuu.com/hnedakbobogroup/docs/diversity_by_design?e=3030867/34707596

From Tribal Government Gaming


HBG a "Champion of Licensure"

See full article on the NCARB Blog

When considering which architecture firms to apply to, look for ones that go above and beyond with innovative projects, international learning opportunities, and overall support of aspiring architects on the road to licensure. Some shining examples are the 2015-2018 IDP Outstanding Firm Award Winners. Learn how these champions of licensure set a high bar when it comes to helping aspiring architects succeed.

HBG, which has offices in Memphis, TN, and San Diego, creates many opportunities for aspiring architects to launch their career. The firm focuses on “inventing, empowering, and preparing the next generation for a future of limitless possibilities in the profession,” according to Principal and Practice Leader Rick Gardner, AIA, Principal and Practice Leader.

The firm’s innovative EDGE Program (Envision Development and Goals Experience) builds teamwork and leadership skills by evaluating personality types to build effective relationships and leverage each person’s strengths. The program also helps participants set goals and take responsibility for their professional development through the Emerging Professionals Studio (EPStudio). The peer-led studio immerses aspiring architects in professional training, providing opportunities for both mentorship and leadership throughout the experience. Plus, the firm’s GOH Travel Scholarship provides an international research experience to broaden an aspiring architect’s knowledge and demonstrate the global impact of architecture.

To help alleviate some of the financial burdens associated with licensure, HBG pays for NCARB Records, reimburses the cost of all passed ARE divisions, and even pays for membership to professional organizations. The firm also provides free study materials and maintains a library of ARE prep materials.

Gardner encourages aspiring architects to “visualize your plan, work with mentors and peers to remove obstacles, and follow through on the commitment to yourself. Until you cross that threshold of licensure, you are limiting your options. What we do matters to the human experience and has an effect on future generations. It’s a wonderful thing to be an architect, and we should all want to reach the highest level possible in our professional accreditation. You’ll be glad you did.”


HBG’s Emily Marshall, IIDA, designs ‘A Place to Dine’

Excerpt from HBG’s article, ‘A Place to Dine: Food and Beverage Design’

Inside the most celebrated resort food and beverage venues, it is the innovation and creativity of the design—not merely the savory culinary selections—that elevate the dining experience to amazing heights of epicurean delight.

Restaurant design trends are shifting to consider not only the visual presentation of the space but also the emotional reactions and special interests of the guests—and one size (or theme) does not fit all. Staying abreast of restaurant design trends means staying abreast of retail trends, influences in fashion and entertainment, F&B operations, consumer behavior and market competition. At HBG, our interior designers are researchers and market surveyors. They are keeping an eye on where popular culture is headed, which often informs how hospitality and F&B design will evolve to meet new demographics.

New market segments, i.e. millennials, are shifting the emphasis in entertainment design to include special events and unique experiential dining opportunities which also bring in the local crowd. Sports bars, specialty cigar bars, farm-to-table-inspired restaurants, and even food-as-theater dining venues are popular with the younger, often more design-minded population seeking unique or artistic design “moments” to share with their social media networks, specifically via Instagram and Twitter.

Restaurant design trends typically vary greatly depending on the target market. With a strong knowledge of national F&B design trends, our team approaches each design project holistically to create an end product that delivers an all-encompassing culinary experience for each market with the goal of providing an unsurpassable dining experience that maximizes operational efficiency for the Owner. Each space must work for the guest, while providing flexibility and effectiveness for staff and servers.

Every aspect of the food & beverage process is considered, beginning with understanding the venue’s overall food concepts and the F&B manager’s operational ideals. HBG interior designers develop an overall design plan including dining room interior solutions, kitchen design solutions, lighting and acoustics. To meet technology needs, many F&B outlets are now using iPads to showcase menu options. This translates into thoughtfully designed furniture with charging stations, and an audio-visual package that offers streaming from personal handheld devices.

An immersive F&B design experience often transcends physical space to inform branding as an intrinsic part of the experience – logo design, menu graphics, tabletop selections, artwork, marketing collateral, and staff uniforms – all contributing to the customer’s total dining experience. With a variety of options at their fingertips, today’s guest has HIGH expectations.


NIGA Chairman Ernie Stevens salutes HBG

Opening the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) trade show today in Phoenix, Chairman Ernie Stevens Jr., with AC Green, former LA Lakers basketball player, welcomes and acknowledges HBG's partnership and commitment to Indian Gaming.

"There are a lot of good friends in Indian Country, but those friends who have given back to Indian Country and participated in our processes in defending and standing by tribal sovereignty…that’s where I call on Dike Bacon and Hnedak Bobo Group." - Ernie Stevens, Jr.


Highlights from The Guest House at Graceland Topping Ceremony

Check out the highlights from The Guest House at Graceland’s Topping Out ceremony in this great video by Elvis Presley Enterprises. Fast-forward to Mark Weaver’s speech to learn more about the inspiration behind the design.


The Guest House at Graceland Reveals Design Elements

Featured in Hospitality Design

Memphis-based Hnedak Bobo Group (HBG) has revealed the design elements for the Guest House at Graceland, a 450-room hotel located just steps from Elvis Presley’s iconic Graceland mansion in Memphis. Set to open in October, the design is inspired both by Elvis’s personal style and his historic home. HBG designers researched the mansion for more than two years, and worked closely with Priscilla Presley to complete the project.

“We all recognize Graceland almost as a time capsule of 1970s design,” says Mark Weaver, HBG principal and lead designer for the project. “But if Elvis was here today, he most likely wouldn’t design his new guest house to look like it was still 1975. So, we took cues from his design style using contemporary pieces to pull it all together. We focused on creating a sense of intimacy between the guest and the property—creating a way for visitors to have an informal and personal experience as a true guest of Graceland that has previously not been possible… an experience that—we think—would make Elvis proud.”

The classic Greek revival façade of the original mansion, built in 1939, is echoed as the centerpiece of the Guest House façade. The central portion of the hotel's exterior celebrates the original mansion in form, scale, and materials.

“From the main entry door to the large gabled roof and columned entry portico, our goal was to make this hotel look as if it was built not long after Graceland itself,” says Weaver. “It will feel like it has always been here.”

Another prominent design feature is the expansive porch, which accommodates seating from both the restaurant and lounge, and embodies Elvis’s sense of Southern hospitality. His presence is woven throughout the hotel, with features including a lobby ceiling inspired by the pattern and movement of one of his signature capes.