HBG Design Named Top Casino Architecture Firm to Watch in 2017
There is no shortage of unique and dramatic exterior and interior design taking place in the gaming industry, as this list of casino architectural firms to watch in 2017 shows.
As competition for consumer dollars within and without the land-based casino marketplace continues to tighten, operators of both small and large properties are seeking differentiation through a variety of means, including facility design and appearance.
The casino architectural community has responded, and recent renovations and new ground-up construction showcase design sensibilities that are truly leading edge. What follows is a list of some casino architecture and design firms that have taken a giant leap forward in the past year, made news recently and bear watching for the remainder of 2017 and beyond, as determined by the editors of Casino Journal.
See the full list here – http://bit.ly/TopCasinoArchitectureFirms
HBG Design accepts award as a ‘Top Workplace’!
The HBG Design team is honored to accept an award as a ‘Top Workplace’ again this year from The Commercial Appeal newspaper.
GOH Travel Scholarship program recognized by PR Daily 2016 Corporate Social Responsibility Award
We are excited to announce that HBG Design’s GOH Travel Scholarship program has been recognized with an Honorable Mention in the PR Daily 2016 Corporate Social Responsibility Awards.
The Gregory O. Hnedak (GOH) Travel Scholarship was established by our firm in 2014. The program is named after a founding partner of our firm, an architecture and interior design firm with a specialization in hospitality and entertainment design. The competitive scholarship program was designed to connect employees with the legacy of the firm’s founder; help employees make a deeper connection with the company’s core values; and broaden their knowledge and understanding of the world around them.
HBG Design Named a Top Workplace
See full list in The Commercial Appeal
For the second year in a row, HBG Design has been named a Top Workplace in Memphis, Tennessee!
Since our founding in 1979, HBG Design has grown from a regional architecture studio to a nationally-recognized, award-winning hospitality and entertainment architecture and interior design firm with offices in Memphis, TN, and San Diego, CA. Formerly known as Hnedak Bobo Group, the company recently rebranded, changing its name to HBG Design. The rebrand was inspired by the firm's passion for designing memorable, transformative experiences. HBG Design's projects span across the country and around the world, with diverse clients such as Las Vegas Sands Corporation, Starwood Hotels, International Paper, FedEx and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Recent Memphis projects include Westin Memphis Beale Street; Lyfe Kitchen; 67 Metro; and opening in October, 2016, The 400-room GuestHouse at Graceland. HBG Design is highly focused on delivering inspired design experiences, enacting innovative operational practices, and engaging employees across the organization as a Top Workplace.
What employees say:
“I am able to exercise my talent and passion every day. ”
“The trust between employees. ”
“I have been growing professionally and personally.”
“HBG is a second home for their employees.”
“The opportunities that are afforded me.”
“The willingness to accommodate employee needs and interests.”
The Guest House at Graceland Earns AAA Four-Diamond Rating
Photos Copyright Jeffrey Jacobs Photography
In the two weeks since opening The Guest House at Graceland, the 450-room luxury hotel has hosted two sold-out weekends and earned a AAA Four Diamond Hotel rating in the process. Graceland's® already-popular resort hotel joins the exclusive ranks of top hotels and resorts in the country that have earned the coveted Four Diamond distinction.
"The AAA Four Diamond Award ratings are among the most well-known and respected distinctions in the global travel industry," said Keith Hess, vice president and managing director of The Guest House at Graceland. "We are honored to receive the award as one of the most prestigious hotels in the country so early in our operation."
AAA Four Diamond lodgings are defined by their refined and stylish design and décor, with upscale physical attributes, and they offer a high degree of hospitality, service and attention to detail. Resorts and hotels undergo rigorous evaluations from AAA's professional inspectors, and must meet specific criteria to earn the award. The exclusive Four Diamond group represents just six percent of the nearly 28,000 AAA/CAA Approved and Diamond Rated hotels.
Inspired by Elvis' personal style and the iconic Graceland Mansion, The Guest House at Graceland opened on October 27, 2016 and is the most significant enhancement to Graceland since it opened to the public in 1982. It is the largest hotel project in Memphis in over 90 years. The resort hotel, which is situated just steps from Graceland Mansion, features 430 guest rooms and 20 specialty suites with design and décor supervised by Priscilla Presley. The hotel also features two full-service restaurants, a lobby bar, a 464-seat theater, outdoor pool and conference, and event and catering facilities.
The primary design goal for The Guest House at Graceland was to create a resort which would complement and celebrate Graceland Mansion – almost as if Elvis was adding a guest house to his original home – without taking away the Mansion's prominence as the focal point. The warm, welcoming spirit of southern hospitality that Elvis embodied at Graceland was a big inspiration to the design process and a key driver of the design.
HBG Design, also based in Memphis – one of the top ten leading hospitality design firms in the United States, designed The Guest House at Graceland, working closely with Priscilla Presley and the team at Graceland.
View the full release on businesswire.com:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161114005584/en/
HBG Ranked Fourth in the Nation by Hotel Business Design
HBG is ranked #4 on the 2016 Hotel Business Design Top Architects and Designers List. For the full list, you can visit Hotel Business Design.
BD&C Magazine ranks HBG #10 in the Nation of Top Hotel Architects
See full list in Building Design + Construction
HBG ranks tenth in the nation of top hotel architecture firms.
Desert Diamond West Valley Casino Only the Second U.S. Casino to Receive Green Globes for New Construction Certification
Memphis, TN (July 14, 2016) – The Green Building Initiative has announced Desert Diamond West Valley Casino in Maricopa County, Arizona, as only the second casino in the U.S. to earn Green Globes for New Construction Certification status. Green Globes is a nationally-recognized eco-friendly and sustainable design rating assessment and certification program.
The new 50,000 square foot casino property, which is phase I of a future resort complex, is owned and operated by the Tohono O’odham Nation, and was designed by national casino resort designers, HBG (Hnedak Bobo Group).
Treena Parvello, Director of Public Relations and Communications for the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, said “We are thrilled that our continuing commitment to the environment has earned Desert Diamond Casino a prestigious Green Globe. Having HBG as a partner on this project helped us to ensure that we created a space that is not only sustainable, but also fully functional in addition to complementing the area in which it was built. We couldn’t be more pleased.”
“Working with the Tohono O’odham Nation, Desert Diamond Casino and The Green Building Initiative in this endeavor has been very fulfilling; and our team is enthusiastic about integrating more sustainable features and efficiencies into the resort’s future phases,” says Rob Lee, AIA, principal at HBG and project manager for the project.
“This level of sustainability shows a commitment by the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise to the environment,” said David Eldridge, Green Globes Assessor, “and it demonstrates the abilities of HBG and the other members of the design and construction team to implement the desired features as part of the project.”
Project management processes, site location, planning, design and sustainable material selection were key drivers for the Green Globes certification for Desert Diamond West Valley Casino. Among a few of the standouts are:
- An integrated design process (IDP) – Performance goals were set and reviewed during multiple stages of construction including site design, envelope requirements, materials, energy use, water use, and overall sustainability.
- The development area – The project was built within a half mile of a commercial zone, away from sensitive areas, out of the flood plain and on a previously developed site. Credit was also awarded for participation in the planned development surrounding an important entertainment and sports district on the west side of the Phoenix Metro area.
- Ecological impacts – The project included an erosion control plan, reduction of the heat island effect, improvement of the local ecology, minimized disturbance of the site and minimized impact to natural species and habitats.
- Landscaping – Significant planning went into soil type, plant locations and the selection of drought tolerant plants that are native to the area.
- Stormwater management – The casino design included control measures for the volume of stormwater, as well as methods to improve the quality of stormwater for reclamation.
- Exterior light pollution – The lighting design included reduction of light trespass (spilling over into other areas) and reduction of glare with efficient fixtures in the parking lot.
The phase I casino is planned to revert to use as warehouse space once the larger casino resort experience opens. Because of the transitional nature of the phase I casino, designers used an abundance of sustainable materials, including carpeting made from recycled materials. Paint was used instead of the typical vinyl wall covering, and fixtures were designed to be transportable to the future casino development.
The Green Globe certification program recognizes the commitment to environmentally efficient design, construction and operational practices, and provides customized guidance in the implementation of high-performance interiors and buildings.
Just Announced: HBG Wins National AIA Award!
The National AIA and NCARB have jointly selected HBG as a recipient of the 2015-2018 Intern Development Program (IDP) Outstanding Firm Award! Only four firms in the country were recognized at this elite level.
This is HBG’s FIRST AIA National Firm Award, so it is especially significant for us.
In our submission, HBG demonstrated a deep commitment to our IDP program by going above and beyond the baseline criteria. We earned an “Outstanding” designation from AIA by demonstrating innovation in our commitment to career growth and leadership development through programs such as EDGE Leadership Development; our Professional Sponsorship Program; the Emerging Professionals Studio; and the GOH Travel Scholarship. This award celebrates the importance we place on a culture of learning and leadership at HBG. We are thrilled to be among such a select few firms in earning this prestigious honor.
Read more about it on the AIA website
Read more about it in Architect Magazine
HBG Named a Winner of the 2015 Top Workplaces Award by Memphis’ Commercial Appeal
HBG is excited to be named one of Memphis’ Top Workplaces by The Commercial Appeal. Congratulations to our incredibly talented employees – thank you for voting HBG a Top Workplace!
The Top Workplaces lists are based solely on the results of an employee feedback survey administered by WorkplaceDynamics, LLC, a leading research firm that specializes in organizational health and workplace improvement. Several aspects of workplace culture were measured, including Alignment, Execution, and Connection, just to name a few.
Through their comments, HBG employees indicated their highest confidence in where the firm is headed and how it’s going to get there, and noted that the environment is highly collaborative and supportive of one another in achieving both project and career goals.
HBG is pleased to join many of our Memphis clients who also achieved this honor, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, International Paper, University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Southern College of Optometry.
WHAT OUR EMPLOYEES HAD TO SAY ABOUT HBG
“Great leadership across the board! Interesting projects and talented, forward-thinking co workers.”
“I am appreciated.”“I have the freedom to do my job without being micromanaged.”
“The opportunity for continued advancement and success.”
“There is no glass ceiling, your career is what you make of it within a very collaborative and supportive environment. You give 110 percent — you get that back from the organization in many ways.”
Hnedak Bobo Group – Responses from Employee Survey
Check out The Commercial Appeal’s Top Workplaces issue here:
Top Workplaces: Workers love perks
The Commercial Appeal Top Workplaces 2015
Brad Vest/The Commercial Appeal files Thor Harland, left, and Mark Weaver, with the Hnedak Bobo Group, are designing the One Beale Skyscraper.
Brad Vest/The Commercial Appeal Plans, drawings and renderings for the One Beale Skyscraper are tacked on the walls inside of the critique area in the Hnedak Bobo Group building.