New Four Winds Casino New Buffalo Sportsbook Lounge is Designed for Comfort
Four Winds New Buffalo Casino Resort's newest amenity, the Sportsbook Lounge made the cover of the latest Tribal Government Gaming issue and was prominently featured in the "Sports of All Sorts" article. A small excerpt is below.
Sports of All Sorts
By: Roger Gros
See full article in Global Gaming Business' Tribal Government Gaming issue
https://issuu.com/globalgamingbusiness/docs/tribal_government_gaming_2022
Retail or Mobile
A retail book will soon become a staple for tribal casinos as sports betting continues to grow across North America. There’s really nothing like the excitement of an NFL Sunday or March Madness inside your casino when players can bet money on the games.
Most tribal sportsbooks won’t look anything like the Superbook at the Westgate in Las Vegas or the world’s largest sportsbook at the Circa in Downtown Las Vegas. But that doesn’t mean the excitement level will be anything less.
When HBG created the sportsbook at the Four Winds casino in New Buffalo, Michigan, it was designed for comfort. The Sportsbook Lounge is adjacent to the casino floor to take advantage of the surrounding gaming excitement. It’s designed to be a comfortable yet active retreat where guests can watch football, basketball, baseball and hockey action, while never having to leave the gaming floor environment.
The lounge’s custom layout and design provide sports fans with a comfortable ambiance to enjoy a beer while cheering on their favorite teams on any of the venue’s 22 televisions. Above the bar and on a large-scale central column are eight 85-inch, six 65-inch and eight 43-inch screens for ideal viewing from sectional sofas and lounge chairs, casual dining tables with chairs, and bar stool seating at the large sports bar.
Frank Freedman, chief operating officer of Four Winds Casinos, says the response of the customers has been very positive.
“We feel the layout, design and finishes will provide guests with the right ambiance, comfortable seating options and splendid views of multiple screens to enjoy a refreshing beverage or cocktail while cheering for their favorite teams,” he says. “Every addition we’ve made to our Four Winds Casinos locations has been for the sole purpose of enhancing the guest experience, and we’re thrilled to be able to offer this new amenity at Four Winds New Buffalo.”
Eagle Mountain Casino Named Top Tribal Project for 2022
See full list of Top Tribal Projects for 2022 in Tribal Government Gaming
HBG Design is excited to share that Tribal Government Gaming Magazine has selected Eagle Mountain Casino in Porterville, California as a Top Tribal Project for 2022.
Creativity & Innovation
The maturation of tribal gaming means constant change. Sometimes it’s a move of location, other times it’s enhancing what you already have. The tribal casinos that qualified this year are indicative of the changes in gaming overall. The legalization of sports betting and its introduction to existing tribal casinos have meant some creative use of existing spaces. The addition of amenities like hotel rooms and suites, high-class restaurants, spas and pools and more have given tribal casinos more of a resort feel, allowing them to compete for new customers whose entertainment wallets are ever-evolving. Congratulations to all the designers, thought leaders and tribal gaming operators who envisioned these amazing changes.
Right Place, Right Time
Eagle Mountain Casino, Porterville, California
Location, location, location,” says Joe Baruffaldi, AIA, principal/project manager at HBG Design, and leader of HBG Design’s San Diego Office.
“HBG Design’s client, the Tule River Tribe in California, is relying on their relocation to a high-visibility property in order to up their game and cement their reputation as a significant competitor in their regional gaming market just southeast of Fresno.”
The relocation of the casino from the reservation to a higher-traffic, higher-visibility area in Porterville, California creates a more conveniently accessible entertainment experience for their local customers, he says. It also opens new opportunities to capture destination traffic and overnight guests traveling between Fresno and Bakersfield.
The new 105,000-square-foot casino property will offer 1,750 slots, 20 table games and a choice of four dining options, including a steakhouse, diner, café and sports bar and grill. A 2,000-seat event center and a 125-room hotel also will be added.
According to Baruffaldi, designers merged storytelling concepts based on significant Tule River tribal cultural elements with amenities and distinctive venues designed specifically for the Porterville gaming customer.
Key design concepts are rooted in the land and agrarian context of Tulare County and central California. The design is heavily influenced by a lodge aesthetic with wood and stone structural expressions. Inside, guests will experience an abstract depiction of the Tule River Tribe’s native traditions through art, patterns and imagery.
Soaring vertical features will recall the majesty of the giant sequoia and the golden eagle, each important representations of tribal culture. Flowing forms will recall the winding Tule River and organic curves of nature.
HBG’s design of the Eagle Mountain Casino feels connected to the woodland. Natural materials and colors help bring a sense of comfort for guests arriving at the property, for an overall relaxed and welcoming experience.
https://issuu.com/globalgamingbusiness/docs/tribal_government_gaming_2022
Tribal Gov't Gaming: Indian Gaming is Bouncing Back
See full article in Tribal Government Gaming
by Dave Bontempo
Tribal projects and gaming revenues rebound in the post-pandemic world
Bring back the aggressive gaming approach.
Tribal leaders and design firms say the “be-safe” phrase is morphing into “go-big” for the new post-pandemic world. Pent-up demand meets the resumption of competition, requiring tribal leaders to perform a balancing act. Operators seek the sweet spot incorporating must-see attractions, comfortable environments and realistic budgets.
As the American market emerges from Covid-19, projects become more forward-looking, far-reaching and sophisticated. Some of the nation’s most prominent companies help tribal leaders step forward.
Project Optimism
HBG Design unveils several operations with tribal leaders positioning themselves both for near-term and long-term success. Dike Bacon, principal, notes that U.S. commercial gaming revenues set an all-time record in gross revenue of $53 billion in 2021.
If this is any indication of the health and vitality of the Indian gaming industry (NIGC has not released 2021 figures), business is booming, he says. “Visit any casino in almost any domestic market and customer traffic is extraordinarily strong—inflation notwithstanding—and you see that demand is there,” he says.
Drivable trips are answering the call of most travelers’ curiosity, which has fueled the need to create fresh and exciting offerings in regional markets where many tribal casinos are located, he adds.
“Competition and location are often the driving forces behind whether a property needs a ‘must-see attraction’ as a differentiator and a draw, but any such ‘wow factor’ has to align with the property’s brand and target audience,” Bacon says.
“I’ll give you an example—we’re designing a distinctive feature attraction for events, music, daytime leisure and active nightlife, as part of a tribal casino resort expansion. The property has a formidable reputation as a leading entertainment and gaming destination, located within 30 miles of a metro feeder market of over 1 million people.
“Properties like this are able to support large-scale, high-impact, must-see attractions when their location combines a vibrant, diverse local population base and access to an equally strong destination customer who is willing to drive farther and stay longer to experience a distinctive amenity that is unmatched in the regional market.”
Bacon says HBG seeks innovative ways to help clients do more with less.
“This challenge covers a lot of ground, from designing public spaces and guest rooms that are easier and faster to clean and service to moving towards automation in concierge and casino hotel check-in,” he says. “Clearly, one of the biggest challenges for operators is to capitalize on current demand while still offering a great entertainment and hospitality experience with impressive customer service. Staffing in the entire hospitality industry (not just gaming) has been incredibly challenging.”
HBG designers work alongside owners to address these pressing issues. This includes creating more efficiently designed spaces that are exciting and entertaining but can also be operated with less staff.
“We’re creating more efficient kitchens and more diverse means of providing F&B to customers, including self-service and take-out venues. Valet parking is another key service area affected by staffing shortages,” says Bacon.
“More customers may be encouraged to self-park instead of valet, which means designing and locating parking garages that are more convenient, secure and customer-friendly. It also gives rise to designing more elevated and exclusive VIP entrance experiences reserved for a property’s best players, creating a smaller staffing pool to focus service on the largest contributors to the casino’s bottom line.”
Nathan Peak, AIA, LEED GA, practice leader/principal of HBG Design, says pent-up demand for entertainment and hospitality experiences motivate tribes to upgrade underperforming areas of their facilities.
“Given the performance of the industry and how it is bouncing back from the pandemic, we are confident that owners will remain in expansion and renovation mode for a while,” Peak says. “A client recently told us that their gaming resort property will likely be in a continuous state of evolution, renovation and building over the next several years to stay fresh for guests and maintain relevancy in the market.”
Another major influencer of the “continuous state of evolution” mindset is the continued passing of new legislation that drives change in tribal—and commercial—gaming properties, says Peak. As more states pass sportsbook legalization, that sets up new priorities for gaming properties who need “must-have” amenities to compete.
Tribes Take Assertive Stance
“Tribal gaming is definitely staying aggressive in terms of maintaining market share, especially in areas of the country where commercial gaming is growing and evolving,” adds Joe Baruffaldi, AIA, principal/project manager at HBG Design, and leader of HBG Design’s San Diego office.
“Tribes realize that knowledge is power; it’s what fuels a competitive edge,” he says. “There’s a greater need today for tribal casino owners to understand the nature of their customer base and harness the power of that knowledge—appreciating and leveraging not only where guests are coming from, but who they are as consumers.
“We partner with tribal gaming clients by helping them envision what the ‘tomorrow of their market’ looks like. When we’re able to anticipate changes in the marketplace, we can proactively respond by leading our clients to more competitively positioned design solutions.”
One of the highlights for HBG over the last few years has been its involvement in in the Four Winds South Bend casino in Indiana. The property is owned by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, which operates three other casinos in Michigan.
Four Winds Casino embarks on a large-scale expansion of its South Bend property, designed by HBG, offering approachable luxury within a new 23-story, 317-key, 83-suite hotel tower.
The project includes a mix of vibrant amenities, to include a spa, convention area, meeting space, a ballroom, lounge, bar and grill, an outdoor rooftop swimming pool, and terraces with spectacular views.
The design incorporates regional elements and warm, rustic details with special attention and references to tribal influences and symbolism.
https://issuu.com/globalgamingbusiness/docs/tribal_government_gaming_2022
Indian Gaming magazine features new Four Winds Casino amenities
The entertainment industry is seeing pent-up demand for entertainment and hospitality experiences. As a result, Owners are investing in upgrades to their facilities to maintain their competitive positioning. Indian Gaming magazine features two new HBG-designed amenities at Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Michigan, and South Bend, Indiana, for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians.
See full article in Indian Gaming Magazine
Sportsbook Lounge at Four Winds New Buffalo Casino Resort Pokagon Band of Potawatomi New Buffalo, Michigan Designed by HBG Design
Located on the gaming floor, the Sportsbook Lounge at Four Winds New Buffalo is designed to appeal to customers wanting an exciting, immersive experience. Twenty-two high-definition TVs provide ultimate opportunities to watch the sporting action unfold. Comfortable, inviting sectional sofas, lounge chairs, casual dining tables, and bar stool seating complement a natural palette, stone textures and intricate patterning for aesthetic consistency with other brand elements.
The Poker Room at Four Winds South Bend Casino Resort Pokagon Band of Potawatomi South Bend, Indiana
The new poker room design at Four Winds South Bend imparts a multi-layered dimensional experience. To achieve the effect, designers used warm on-brand tones to complement stone-base columns and grand textural wooden ceiling elements. Alternating wood walls and patterned screening partitions set the poker room apart from the main casino floor. Column sconces and carpet feature representations of regional foliage. The poker room is a large, bright and comfortable setting for Four Winds South Bend’s latest table game offering.
HBG Design's 'Women Who Lead' Honored by Memphis Business Journal
See full article in Memphis Business Journal
HBG Design is excited to share that our Chief Operating Officer, Terri Struminger and Director of Marketing and communications, Tamara Goff have been honored by Memphis Business Journal's editorial team as "Women Who Lead". This prestigious recognition highlights accomplishments of women who have broken through the glass ceiling and helped define their businesses, as well as the local marketplace.
Women Who Lead | Architecture: Terri Struminger of HBG
Terri Struminger not only acknowledges the rarity involving her role, but she champions it too. And rightfully so. She’s not an architect, though she’s successfully running the operations of HBG Design. “That’s been a very intentional hallmark of HBG’s organization for the past three decades,” she explained. Struminger leads the fully capable corporate operations team, so their “architects and interior designers are able to do what they love and do best: practice their craft, service our clients, and create exceptional projects.”
Next up on her agenda is leading new strategies and processes that integrate HBG’s core vision into every aspect of their team’s professional and personal development. Another big goal is to deepen employee engagement by rebooting some of the interactive aspects of our culture that have been altered because of the pandemic. “I am passionate about creating a ‘Best Place to Work’ culture at HBG Design,” she added, “and that sense of purpose drives absolutely everything I do.”
“I believe if you can share your organization’s values and priorities effectively, you can drive engagement in your workforce. With that in mind, my team and I set out on a journey to build greater awareness of our strategic vision and goals across the firm. I’m proud of the role I’ve played spearheading the evolution of HBG’s core vision. This has been a multiyear initiative that, so far, has clearly ignited a deeper connection between employees, firm aspirations, and culture.” - Terri Struminger, COO, HBG Design
Women Who Lead | Marketing: Tamara Goff of HBG Design
With more than two decades leading marketing efforts at HBG Design, Tamara Goff has a combination of skill sets that can often defy description. “What I do isn’t conventional. I’m a combination brand alchemist, creative influencer, communication ninja, aspiring novelist, culture curator, head cheerleader, and occasional cat wrangler,” Goff said. “Our CEO also tends to refer to me as ‘part of the conscience of the firm.’” More specifically, Goff is a principal and shareholder at HBG with a focus on influencing creative and strategic outcomes for the architecture firm. She points to the credibility established for her team in the industry, having garnered more than 30 national and international marketing and communication awards. And rebranding the firm to HBG Design in 2016 was a significant centering of the firm on its ‘true north’ and identity.
Nathan Peak Announced as HBG Design Practice Leader
Nathan will be focused on influencing design innovation, nurturing talent and leading HBG’s teams in delivering impactful hospitality design.
January 12, 2022 - Memphis, TN – HBG Design announces Nathan Peak, AIA, LEED GA, has been named Practice Leader of the 100-person, top 10 nationally recognized hospitality design and architecture firm. In his new role, Peak will oversee design and practice leadership for HBG’s three offices in Memphis, TN, San Diego, CA, and Dallas, TX. His promotion to Practice Leader represents the initial step in HBG Design's transition to its third generation of firm leadership.
Peak is a principal in HBG Design's Memphis headquarters. Of his 20+ years with the firm, Peak has served as HBG’s Design Director for nearly a decade, leading and guiding the design direction of the firm’s national hospitality and entertainment projects.
“Nathan continues to be a transformative leader with immense creative vision and ambition for the firm’s growth,” says Rick Gardner, AIA, CEO of HBG Design. “He’s a champion of award-winning, experiential design and has a gift for cultivating talent and deepening the connections between employees across our organization.”
Peak plans to build on the firm’s deep bench of talented professionals to further position HBG Design’s national presence into multiple sectors of the hospitality industry.
“I’m energized by this generation’s sense of passion and purpose," says Peak. "I look forward to bringing a level of design leadership to the firm that is keenly focused on encouraging and engaging others to create something meaningful and impactful for our clients and those who experience the spaces we create.”
A core principle of HBG Design’s culture and vision is represented by the term ‘Ensuring Longevity.’
As HBG’s COO Terri Struminger describes, “We have a very distinct culture that connects our people and purpose and gives us opportunities to rally around common goals. One way we achieve longevity for HBG Design, our employees and their families is through smart transition planning that maps a clear path from the current generation of leaders to the next. Nathan’s elevation to Practice Leader is a significant moment on our path.”
An active father of a 13-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old son, the new face of HBG’s design practice knows first-hand the challenges of work-life balance facing today’s professionals.
“Like so many of our employees, I also balance bringing my absolute best to support our clients and the needs of our team – while managing a busy schedule of soccer tournaments and just being a dad,” says Peak. “I believe that a key aspect of corporate culture is keeping our work interesting and challenging, while enhancing work-life flexibility. We don’t just bring a part of ourselves to work each day – we bring our whole self. My goal is to really nurture an environment where everyone can bring their full life experience to what they do and know they are contributing something unique and important to the big picture.”
Peak is a graduate of the Pratt Institute in New York City where he earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree. He joined HBG Design in September 2001 as an architectural designer. His innovative hospitality and entertainment designs prominently stand out in the marketplace and have received national acclaim and multiple industry awards.
GGB Casino Style: Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort is in the Winner's Circle
https://issuu.com/globalgamingbusiness/docs/casino_style_magazine_2021/6
Read the full article above and at GGB Casino Style magazine.
The racetrack name may be as revered as the resort city it occupies: Oaklawn Racing in Hot Springs, Arkansas. In 1904, Oaklawn opened as a 1,500-seat grandstand, hosting high-stakes thoroughbred races. In the past 100-plus years, it has become the No. 1 tourist attraction in the state, and is now known as Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort.
In 2009, HBG Design was instrumental in the addition of a casino to the jockey club, and then oversaw a casino expansion and renovation in 2015. Most recently, Oaklawn turned to HBG to lead the architecture and interior design for the newest large-scale racing and gaming resort expansion.
It includes an eight-story, 198-room hotel with thrilling views of the horse track, a 15,000-square-foot event center, an expanded gaming floor and new high-limit area, a world-class spa and pool, and multiple upscale food and beverage venues including a food court, the First Turn Bar and the Bugler restaurant.
The Cella family, owners and operators of Oaklawn for generations, looked for a design that emphasized the resort’s roots in racing. HBG’s “tailored equestrian” concept more than fulfills that vision. The expansion took many design cues from Hot Springs’ heyday as America’s First Spa Resort, renowned for its thermal springs and iconic Victorian bathhouses.
Designers followed the strong horizontal silhouettes of the original grandstand to inform much of the aesthetic, introducing linear, interlocking volumes and building shapes to tie the elements together aesthetically. A new video wall builds anticipation as guests arrive.
Visual notes in the building’s architecture bring to mind thoroughbreds galloping to the finish line, adding a sense of movement to the iconic hotel mass.
Color and texture add visual interest, with metal panels in shades of red, orange, tan and blue-gray contrasting with a lighter-hued stone base and columns to continue the contemporary aesthetic. Corrugated materials on the exterior recall the grooves left on the racetrack turf after it is smoothed by chain harrows.
Bold architectural gestures highlight the two-story lobby and soaring prefunction space. The grand staircase and escalators are striking features of the tall entry lobby, and lead patrons to the new food court, main gaming floor and hotel guest rooms.
The lobby combines a refined modern aesthetic with historical undercurrents, using a restrained gray-blue, navy and tan color palette, natural woodplank ceiling, traditional patterned tile, marble finishes, and a breathtaking circular gold metallic chandelier.
The theme continues underfoot, in the carpet pattern, with overlapping planes that bring to mind galloping horses. They work together with lighting and pattern to create a sense of movement around the floor. The subtle equestrian theme continues in the sophisticated guest rooms and suites, for an aligned guest experience from end to end.
The use of glass fosters indoor/outdoor connection. To reinforce racing as the main attraction, the new hotel and amenity structures wrap around the track.
All design references in the expansion subtly hint at the rich horse racing heritage at Oaklawn, using abstract design themes as the catalyst for discovery. As Oaklawn General Manager Wayne Smith noted at the opening of the newly expanded space, “You’ll find throughout the whole facility that racing is in some way, shape or form involved in the design. What we want people to recognize is we are a racetrack first, and then we are a hotel and casino next.”
Smith said Oaklawn offers guests a “new level of luxury“ in the historic resort city.
OWNERS: The Cella Family
ARCHITECTURAL & INTERIOR DESIGN: HBG Design
TOTAL INVESTMENT: $100 million-plus
OPENED: April 2021
GGB Casino Style: Diamonds Are Forever at Desert Diamond West Valley Casino
https://issuu.com/globalgamingbusiness/docs/casino_style_magazine_2021/10
Read the full article above or here.
The new Diamond VIP Lounge at Desert Diamond West Valley Casino in Glendale, Arizona was meant to dazzle—literally.
Diamonds are meaningful symbols in the culture of the Tohono O’odham Nation, which owns and operates the gaming property. Inspired by the brilliance of the stones, the team at HBG Design introduced ambient lighting to illuminate the new lounge and new high-limit room.
Heightened by diamond-like patterns, the light refracts on gleaming upscale finishes throughout the space, including marble and decorative glass tiles, vibrant pendant lighting, fractal-patterned screening and carpeting, and jewel-toned fabrics.
Together, the elements create a truly luminous environment, grounded by a sophisticated desert-toned palette that calls to mind the sculptural features of the earth. The high-limit area, adjacent to the lounge, continues the jewel-inspired design scheme.
The aesthetic of the property derives from a concept called “The Dynamic Earth,” inspired by the vibrance and energy of the desert landscape. It is echoed in unique design interpretations in multiple food-and-beverage venues, the casino floor, and VIP and public spaces, and will inform future phases of the resort’s development, which tentatively include a hotel, spa and convention center.
The VIP lounge is the culmination of a multimillion-dollar resort plan that was first announced by the Tohono O’odham in 2009. After multiple legal challenges, the resort’s first phase was completed in 2015, with the larger project launched in December 2017. According to local media, construction workers spent more than 1 million hours building the $400 million facility.
Dr. Ned Norris, Jr., chairman of the Tohono O’odham Nation, said the projects are “creating a brighter future for the Tohono O’odham, the West Valley and Arizona… We will continue working with our partners to create even greater opportunity for us all.”
With the design aesthetic developed by HBG Design team, the elegant space will continue to attract visitors to Desert Diamond West Valley—and to dazzle them all.
OWNER: The Tohono O’odham Nation
DESIGNER: HBG Design
GGB Casino Style Highlights Changes in Post-Pandemic Design
https://issuu.com/globalgamingbusiness/docs/casino_style_magazine_2021/16
As Covid-19 reaches the rearview mirror of gaming operators, its future impact fits two distinct areas. Some properties have resumed pre-pandemic operations with a few tweaks. Others consider the post-pandemic world a permanent change for casino design. Casinos will incorporate safety-first measures and try striking a balance between safety, comfort, player cultivation and bottom-line innovations.
As casinos emerge from the pandemic, and resume investing in their operations, the design industry’s biggest players guide them forward, armed with the knowledge of which camp each property fits in.
GGB Casino Style Highlights Changes in Post-Pandemic Design
Making Lemons from Lemonade
Covid produced new realities, which breeds new opportunities in the eyes of HBG Design, a powerful group that has helped its clients get out in front of the pandemic.
“If there is such a thing as good news about ‘design after Covid,’ it’s the emphasis on flexibility and reinvention. Those two words have been a steady part of the gaming vernacular practically since its inception,” says Dike Bacon, principal at HBG Design.
“You have to keep your property fresh and in-step with trends in consumer behaviors, and while it may sound strange to think of ‘design after Covid’ as an opportunity, it represents one of the biggest shifts in consumer behaviors we’ve seen, possibly ever.”
HBG Design works with operators to re-think and re-invent communal spaces in their properties—from F&B to guest rooms, entertainment venues and, of course, the casino floor, he indicates. “These spaces will continue to play a vital role in connecting people; the design simply has to adapt and flex to support all of humanity’s newly redefined needs,” Bacon asserts.
Gaming-floor space provides another creative outlet. Although new ramifications have hit this area, the reason people gamble has not, according to Nathan Peak, AIA, LEED Green Associate, who also is a principal and design director at HBG. “The pandemic may have redefined the way we think about spaces—especially communal spaces,” Peak says, “but the reason why guests come together to share experiences hasn’t changed.
“The essence of these interactive entertainment spaces hasn’t been lost. Casino resort amenities and especially the casino floor thrive on big spaces teeming with lots of energy and people, and they always will.”
Applying thoughtful, flexible design sensibilities to communal gaming spaces and amenities is more critical than ever before, as these spaces must now be able to easily transform and handle fluid situations, he indicates.
“The key,” says Peak, “is reimagining what flexibility looks like. Before Covid, flexibility may have meant stackable furniture or retractable event space seating, but the word flexibility has been redefined because of the pandemic. Today, we look at flexibility as shaping spaces that are malleable and can adjust to a host of layout options suitable for individual privacy, groups, and social interaction.
“Ultimately, it’s about designing flexible spaces that cater to flexible needs. The ideas of physical space and user experience are more connected than ever before, as people may still feel wary of sitting close to others, yet don’t want to be in isolation.”
High Limits area at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort/HBG Design
The idea of adaptable and flexible public spaces can be seen throughout HBG Design’s recently completed Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in historic Hot Springs, Arkansas. Across the property one sees influence of “design after Covid,” Peak asserts, noting its soaring hotel lobby space designed with a number of different interaction zones that easily shift from quiet personal spaces to socialization hubs for groups to gather before heading to the casino floor.
Flexible FF&E accompanies thoughtfully considered layouts that can be easily changed and reconfigured depending on the needs of operators and their guests.
“In the Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort lobby, we’ve used bold architectural gestures like the grand staircase and escalators which create dramatic structural elements and strong visual presence that directs casino guests to the main gaming floor, new food court and the hotel guest rooms on the second level,” Peak indicates. “Every space needs a moment that pulls you in, and these central elements draw you in, create interest and also provide a sense of openness in the space that puts guests in the right frame of mind—that they’ve entered not only a beautiful, glamorous entertainment space, but a safe space to enjoy.”
The pandemic has also seriously affected regional material sourcing, which plays a vital role in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry.
Bacon says a new sensibility about sourcing materials from regional makers and manufacturers has come out of the pandemic. “As designers seek to achieve an aesthetic that is of the area and create experiential moments, local and regional materials play a vital role in expressing that authenticity.
“Where the pandemic comes into play is in the material shortages, higher costs, and longer lead times the entire AEC industry is experiencing today,” he adds. “Covid created significant manufacturing shutdowns, especially overseas, leading to material shortages and often complete lack of availability, higher tariffs from international manufacturers shipping domestically and transportation concerns. As an alternative, carefully sourced regional options can not only circumvent such transportation and tariff issues, but they can also promote greater connection to place in meaningful ways.”
Lobby area at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort/HBG Design
The effects of Covid extend to another area, the disrupted supply chains.
“Supply chain issues will probably go on for another year or so,” says Emily Marshall, IIDA, NCIDQ, principal and director of HBG Design’s Interior Design Group. “Many of our clients in the branded hospitality space, as well as in gaming, have told us they are looking at 30–32-week lead items for most of their FF&E and lighting. That makes a big impact on accommodating anticipated construction and installation schedules.”
One way HBG Design is working around the supply chain situation is by using more regional manufacturers who employ skilled tradesmen who build case goods and millwork in a shop, versus working onsite. This not only keeps the level of quality high, but also increases efficiency.
“We’re very supportive of this type of FF&E delivery because the craftsmanship is excellent and there is so much less waste as a result,” adds Marshall. “Like Dike said, if there can be any sort of ‘good’ outcome of the pandemic, it’s that our eyes have been opened to looking at everything from design to delivery through a different lens, while reimagining the way spaces are used, designed, and furnished. And that, in the long run, will be better for everyone.”
Read the full article above, and here.
HBG Design Again Named a Top Workplace by The Commercial Appeal!
See full list of winners posted by The Commercial Appeal
The Commercial Appeal has named HBG Design a Top Workplace for another consecutive year! This honor is very dear to us as it is based on direct feedback from our staff.
Thank you once again to our team for this outstanding recognition!
"This architectural and interior design company pays 100% of professional dues, association membership fees and licensing fees for professionals including architects, interior designers and legal personnel. It also offers a bonus plan based on profit and extraordinary performance."
This is not a complete list of the benefits that the company offers: in most cases, The Commercial Appeal selected only the most unusual benefit from the company's offering.
See past HBG Design 'Top Workplace' honors for HBG Design.
