More Than Design: Celebrating Team Spirit at HBG Dallas
At HBG Design, we know that great design starts with strong relationships—and that includes the bonds we build with each other. This summer, our Dallas team gathered at Chicken N Pickle for a fun-filled afternoon of pickleball, laughter, and time spent with colleagues and families. The casual competition and shared moments off the clock reminded us how much we value working—and playing—together.
This event follows our Memphis office’s summer outing at the Levitt Shell, where the team enjoyed live music under the stars. Up next, our San Diego team will be toasting the season this Friday at a local favorite, Stone Brewing Company.
Across all three offices, these moments reflect the heart of HBG Design’s culture: genuine connection, strong team spirit, and celebrating the people behind the work.
Interested in a workplace that values creativity and camaraderie?
Explore our Careers Page to learn more about life at HBG.
Wellness Design in Hospitality
“Wellness isn’t a luxury anymore—it’s a baseline expectation,” says Landon Shockey, ASID, NCIDQ, Senior Interior Designer at HBG Design. “The most successful environments are both sensory-rich and versatile—crafted to evolve with guest needs while creating meaningful, wellness-infused experiences.”
In today’s hospitality industry, wellness design is no longer an amenity—it’s a strategic must. From spa suites to biophilic architecture, hotel and resort guests expect spaces that support how they want to feel, move, and recharge.
What Is Wellness Design in Hotels and Resorts?
Wellness design integrates mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing into the built environment. It’s not one-size-fits-all. Sometimes wellness means:
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A calming in-room palette and soft glow lighting
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Aromatherapy showers for personal retreat
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Full-service spas and fitness spaces
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Climate-controlled pool environments
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Outdoor-inspired architecture that promotes natural connection
At HBG Design, we scale wellness design to match how different guests want to engage—whether that’s stillness, movement, or immersive experience.
WinStar Resort Spa – Thackerville, OK
Guests from busy metro areas like Dallas/Ft. Worth and Oklahoma City arrive seeking peace. This spa retreat offers:
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Touchless therapies
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Aquathermal bathing
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Ambient experience shower
Each sensory element is designed to encourage guests to slow down and reconnect.
Cascades at WinStar – Thackerville, OK
You don’t need an ocean to feel serenity. At Cascades, wellness design comes to life through:
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Lounge pools shaped by ocean-inspired forms
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Curved daybeds for socializing or solo relaxation
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Fluid zones that feel like a water-based escape in the heart of the Midwest
Astral Spa at Oaklawn Resort – Hot Springs, AR
Wellness also means movement. This spa integrates:
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Fitness center and outdoor pool with in-water loungers
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Yoga lawn and shaded treatment areas
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Multiple ways to stretch, breathe, and rejuvenate
Wawyé Oasis at Gun Lake Resort – Wayland, MI
In Michigan’s cold climate, warmth and light are vital to wellness. This indoor tropical atrium offers:
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Six-story, climate-controlled space
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Poolside lounging by day
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High-energy concerts and social events by night
This is wellness design that flexes to fit guest energy throughout the day.
Cache Creek Resort - Biophilic Wellness Design in Action
At Cache Creek Resort (CA) nature plays a leading role. We use:
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Natural light and panoramic views
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Organic textures and materials
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Outdoor-inspired interiors to foster a grounded, calming atmosphere
The Future of Hospitality Is Wellness-Focused
Designing for wellness is no longer optional. It’s a powerful differentiator—and a way to build lasting emotional connection between guests and place. By focusing on wellness design, hospitality brands can meet guests where they are and give them the freedom to relax, move, and reconnect—on their own terms.
IN THE FIELD: HBG Design Explores AIA25
This June, HBG Design team members Kevin Burke, Ethan Griffin, and Ryan Callahan represented our firm at the AIA25 National Conference on Architecture in Boston, Massachusetts—an expansive gathering of architecture’s leading professionals and next-generation thinkers.
With more than 600 exhibiting brands, 110+ accredited sessions, and visionary keynote speakers, AIA25 provided an immersive experience exploring the future of architecture through the lenses of sustainability, technology, leadership, and design equity.
Real-World Learning: From Culture to Construction Detailing
HBG Design’s Ethan Griffin curated his AIA25 experience around themes that resonate deeply with our practice—from project profitability and firm culture to sustainable materials and AI-integrated workflows.
“The sessions I attended gave me practical tools, fresh ideas, and renewed motivation to grow in my career,” Griffin said. “Hearing how other firms embrace inter-generational mentorship and flexible work models reinforced what I already value about HBG—supporting both professional growth and real-life balance.”
Griffin also dove into technical sessions on fee estimating, energy-efficient façade design, and automation in the design process—topics directly tied to project success and innovation.
Big Ideas from Bold Voices: Keynote Inspiration
Two keynote moments stood out as especially impactful:
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Allie K. Miller, AI strategist and entrepreneur, offered a bold look at how firms can scale intelligently with AI.
“Apply AI where it helps reduce inefficiencies—not replace creativity,” said Griffin. “It’s a tool to enhance, not replace, human design thinking.”
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Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, delivered a powerful call to action about designing for inclusive, connected communities.
“This was the most inspiring session I attended,” Griffin said. “It reminded me why we do what we do—to shape the future for the better.”
Hands-On Discovery at the AIA Expo
At the heart of AIA25 was the Expo Hall, where the HBG team explored materials and technologies from industry leaders including:
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Kalwall Structures Unlimited
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Sculptform
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Cityscapes Z-fin Screening Systems
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Skyscape Architectural Canopies
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Cupaclad Natural Slate Cladding
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NorthGlass Cast Glass
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Amico Architectural Metals
From sustainable cladding to expressive glazing systems, these tools and materials help fuel HBG’s commitment to designing environments that delight and endure.
Experiencing Boston: Culture, Collaboration, and...Puppies
Experiencing Boston: Culture, Collaboration, and...PuppiesBeyond the sessions and product discoveries, the team joined architectural tours across Boston and visited Autodesk’s innovative workplace. And of course, they couldn’t resist a visit to the Puppy Park—a conference favorite that added a lighthearted pause to a packed week of learning.
Why It Matters: Continuous Learning at HBG Design
At HBG Design, continuous learning isn’t optional—it’s embedded in our culture. Conferences like AIA25 provide critical space for our architects and designers to recharge, reimagine, and bring back actionable insights to our teams and clients.
If you’re a designer looking for a firm that invests in your development, values collaboration, and gives you a platform to make real impact—we’d love to connect.
Next up: AIA26 in San Diego. See you there!
Top Hospitality Design Firm: HBG Design #2 in 2025
At HBG Design, our passion for hospitality design continues to shape the future of resort and hotel experiences across the country. We’re thrilled to announce that Hotel Business magazine has ranked HBG Design #2 on its 2025 list of Top Architects & Designers—marking our sixth consecutive year among the top
five hospitality design firms in the nation.
This continued recognition underscores our position as a top hospitality design firm known for vision, creativity, and technical excellence. At HBG Design, our integrated architecture and interior design teams work in close collaboration to create immersive, memorable environments that resonate deeply with guests and elevate our clients’ brands.
Milestone Openings in 2025
This year marks an exciting chapter for our hospitality studio as we celebrate the completion of three signature casino resort hotel projects:
- Gun Lake Casino Resort in Wayland, Michigan – A bold expansion of this established property, the new hotel and spa experience delivers upscale comfort and signature design tailored to the Gun Lake brand.
- Golden Mesa Casino Hotel in Guymon, Oklahoma – This project introduces new overnight accommodations and hospitality offerings to an area rich in culture and gaming excitement.
- Rain Rock Casino Hotel in Yreka, California – Nestled at the base of the Siskiyou Mountains, this new hotel brings boutique luxury and elevated guest amenities to the region’s premier gaming destination.
These milestone openings showcase the creative and operational strength of our team, and reflect the level of quality that defines HBG Design’s work as a leading hospitality design firm.
A Legacy of Experience and Innovation
Over the past two decades, HBG Design has planned and designed more than 35,000 hotel and resort rooms across the United States, ranging from boutique and lifestyle hotels to large-scale integrated resort destinations. These include three-, four-, and five-star luxury properties that combine impactful design with operational insight.
Our longstanding reputation as a top hospitality architecture and interior design firm is built on our ability to create environments that are both strategically sound and emotionally engaging. We anticipate shifting traveler preferences and deliver solutions that exceed expectations for both owners and guests.
Designing What’s Next
As we look ahead, our team continues to focus on delivering bold architecture and interior design solutions that reflect a strong sense of place and story. Every project is a reflection of our commitment to innovation, collaboration, and excellence in hospitality design.
We are proud to be recognized once again as one of the top hospitality design firms in the country. Thank you to Hotel Business for this national recognition, and congratulations to our team members, clients, and creative partners who continue to drive our success forward.
The best is yet to come.
Smart Strategies for Casino Expansion in a Changing World
As Seen in Casino Design Magazine: "Nips, Tucks, Dollars, & Cents" - HBG's Strategies for Casino Expansion in Today's Changing World
In a time of record-setting gaming revenues but persistent economic headwinds, the stakes for casino resort development have never been higher. That’s why we're proud to share that HBG Design President Nathan Peak is featured as a key voice in Casino Style Magazine’s latest article, “Nips, Tucks, Dollars & Cents,” exploring how savvy operators and designers are rethinking renovation and expansion strategies in today’s unpredictable environment.
The article outlines how operators across the country—both commercial and tribal—are navigating inflation, shifting tariffs, labor challenges, and supply chain unpredictability. Nathan Peak offers insight into how HBG Design is helping clients move forward with confidence through phased development, data-driven flexibility, and proactive sourcing strategies. As Nathan notes,
“Flexibility is built into our process, but it hinges on having a strong communication chain among the owner, architect and contractor.”
With a deep portfolio of hospitality and gaming projects across the U.S., HBG Design is uniquely positioned to guide clients through capital investment decisions that balance guest experience with economic resilience. Whether it's identifying high-performing zones within a casino footprint, maximizing revenue-generating amenities, or phasing construction to match market conditions, our integrated team of architects, interior designers, and procurement experts helps clients transform challenges into opportunities.
Read the full article to learn how HBG Design is shaping the next generation of resort experiences.
Wawyé Oasis Lands the Cover of Casino Style Magazine
We’re thrilled to share that Casino Style Magazine’s Summer 2025 issue features Wawyé Oasis at Gun Lake Casino on its cover—and for good reason. As the centerpiece of the resort’s transformative $300 million expansion, Wawyé Oasis is a first-of-its-kind, indoor tropical retreat and entertainment venue designed by HBG Design to deliver a bold, immersive escape in the heart of West Michigan.
Created in close collaboration with the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians and Gun Lake Casino leadership, the new 32,000-square-foot, glass-domed atrium is more than a pool—it’s an all-season, all-occasion destination. By day, lush greenery, radiant natural light, and sparkling pools invite guests into a serene tropical haven. By night, it morphs effortlessly into a vibrant concert venue or special event space, replete with dynamic lighting, state-of-the-art acoustics, and energy that rivals the biggest entertainment hot spots.
“When you look at the array of amenities—a hotel, a spa—some of them are natural, because we’re shooting for four-diamond status or higher,” says Gun Lake CEO Sal Semola. “The big differentiator is the Oasis.”
In the article "Deep Dive", writer Marjorie Preston explores the innovation, collaboration, and vision that brought this complex new environment to life. From the dome’s engineering marvels to the intricate planning behind its multi-functional spaces, Wawyé Oasis represents a bold new chapter in resort amenity design—one that’s turning heads, drawing visitors, and redefining what’s possible in a four-season casino resort.
Read the full story in Casino Style Magazine to see how HBG Design and Gun Lake Casino are making a splash in the world of resort entertainment.
Art. Atmosphere. Action. HBG Design Reimagines the Legendary Atlantis Casino
HBG Design is honored to be featured in the latest issue of Casino Style Magazine for our transformative design work at the iconic Atlantis Casino on Paradise Island, Bahamas.
In the feature article, “Bold Redesign Fuses Art, Atmosphere and Gaming Action,” HBG Design Principal and Interior Design Leader Emily Marshall shares how our team reimagined one of the world’s most legendary resort casinos into an immersive, energy-rich environment that seamlessly fuses Bahamian culture, contemporary art, and dynamic guest engagement.
The renovation celebrates and elevates Atlantis’ artistic legacy—including its world-renowned Dale Chihuly sculptures—through a vibrant design that re-centers art as a core component of the guest experience. Every touchpoint within the re-envisioned casino floor, from custom-designed carpet patterns to sculptural lighting and upgraded F&B venues, has been carefully choreographed to enhance movement, energy, and sensory connection.
Highlights of the redesign include:
- The Moon and The Sun Chihuly masterpieces, re-lit and re-staged to create immersive focal points.
- A refreshed and expanded Moon Bar and the all-new Bar Sol, blending live entertainment, Bahamian influence, and design-forward social energy.
- A casino floor layout and ceiling transformation that encourages guest exploration and elevates sightlines throughout.
- A palette of rich, jewel-toned hues and textures that reflect the light and rhythm of the sea.
As Marshall explains, “We approached the entire casino environment as a continuous experience... ensuring that whether guests are gaming, dining, or relaxing, they’re always part of the energy.”
This bold redesign is more than a renovation—it’s a reinvigoration of an iconic brand through HBG Design’s deeply strategic and emotionally resonant approach to hospitality and entertainment environments.
👉 Read the full article: “Bold Redesign Fuses Art, Atmosphere and Gaming Action” on Casino Style Magazine
As Seen in Casino Style: Live! Casino Louisiana
HBG Design is proud to share the latest Casino Style Magazine feature highlighting Live! Casino Louisiana—a transformative new land-based casino in Bossier City that’s redefining the regional gaming experience in North Louisiana.
Developed by The Cordish Companies and designed by HBG Design in collaboration with architect-of-record KdG, a Shive-Hattery company, Live! Casino Louisiana rises from the shell of the former Diamond Jacks property with a fresh identity rooted in bold vision and local energy. The design—led by HBG Principal Paul Bell, AIA—draws direct inspiration from the dynamic flow of the nearby Red River, informing a guest experience that is both visually fluid and emotionally vibrant.
From the moment guests arrive, they are immersed in a high-energy, art-forward environment, beginning with a show-stopping LED media ribbon that flows from the porte-cochere through the casino’s entry sequence—creating a signature Instagrammable moment that sets the tone for what’s inside.
Inside, every detail—from the vibrant, curving casino floor to the whirlpool-inspired Center Bar and the luxury of the High Limit area—is designed to evoke motion, discovery, and elevated entertainment. This project exemplifies HBG Design’s ability to create contextually inspired, guest-centric experiences that not only transform properties—but elevate their market impact.
Read more in Casino Style Magazine’s June 2025 issue to see how Live! Casino Louisiana is sparking a new era of gaming in the South—with a signature look and feel that only HBG Design can deliver.
👉 Read the full article: “Red River Energy” at Casino Style Magazine
The Next Generation of Regional Resorts
As guest expectations rise and competition for discretionary spend intensifies, today’s regional casino resorts are boldly stepping into a new league—transforming into destination-worthy experiences that rival the best of Las Vegas. In the newly published Casino Style Magazine article, “Super-Regional Momentum,” HBG Design’s thought leader Nathan Peak explore how next-level design strategy is propelling this powerful shift across the gaming and hospitality industry.
With insight drawn from decades of experience, President Nathan Peak shares how HBG Design is helping operators craft resort environments that do far more than house gaming—they create immersive, flexible experiences that attract guests from hundreds of miles away. These are not just expansions or renovations—they are bold reimaginings of what it means to engage, entertain, and elevate the guest journey.
From high-impact, multi-use amenities like the Wawyé Oasis at Gun Lake Casino to the strategic layering of entertainment, wellness, and culinary design, HBG Design is leading the charge in shaping the super-regional resort model—one defined by purpose, placemaking, and performance.
As Dike Bacon, VP of Development for Fremont-Wright notes, “These amenities aren’t just program elements—they’re destination-makers.” And in today’s fast-evolving resort landscape, that distinction matters more than ever.
Whether you’re planning phased growth, repositioning your market presence, or envisioning a signature new guest experience, this article offers valuable perspective on the design-led strategies that are redefining success for operators across the country.
Read the full feature in Casino Style Magazine
A Magical Memphis Evening: BBQ, Breezes & Big Cheers at HBGathers+
What happens when you combine a perfect summer evening, savory barbecue, and the smooth, soulful sounds of Nashville’s own Saaneah? You get HBGathers+ Memphis—an
unforgettable night under the stars that brought our team together in the heart of the city we love.
Held at the iconic Overton Park Shell, this year’s annual HBGathers+ event was all about celebrating connection, community, and the people who make HBG Design such a vibrant place to work. With golden sunlight fading into a warm dusk, team members and their families gathered on the venue’s elevated decks, enjoying cool breezes through the oaks and unbeatable views of the stage and each other.
From the first bite of mouthwatering BBQ to the last note of Saaneah’s effortlessly cool performance, the atmosphere was nothing short of electric—easy conversation, genuine laughter, and the kind of camaraderie that comes from years of shared creativity and collaboration.
At HBG Design, we believe in making space to celebrate each other—and HBGathers is how we do just that. Every year, each of our
office locations hosts their own HBGathers event at a fun, local destination. These gatherings are a time for our teams to connect outside the studio, enjoy great food and entertainment, and just have fun together. It’s one of our favorite traditions, and a reminder that our culture is built just as much on personal connection as it is on professional collaboration.
Events like HBGathers+ are more than just a fun night out. They’re a reflection of who we are: a team that values connection, celebrates our people, and thrives on creating memorable experiences—both in our designs and in our shared moments together.
And the celebration doesn’t stop here—HBGathers events are happening in our San Diego and Dallas offices too. Stay tuned for more highlights!
Here’s to more magical nights like this one.