By Emily Marshall, NCIDQ, Interior Design Director, HBG Design

When people think about hospitality design, they often think about beautiful interiors, luxurious finishes, or memorable guest experiences. While those elements are certainly important, the projects that stay with me long after they’re complete are the ones that become something more.

The new Community Block Wall at Gun Lake Casino Resort is one of those projects.

As Lead Interior Designer for the Gun Lake Resort expansion, I had the privilege of working alongside the Gun Lake Tribe throughout the design of the resort’s public spaces. From the beginning, our goal was to create an environment that felt distinctly connected to the art and culture of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians. Every material, pattern, artwork, and story was considered as part of that larger vision.

But one opportunity stood apart.

Not simply creating a place that tells the Tribe’s story—but creating a place where the Tribe could tell its own story.

More Than an Art Installation

Working closely with the Gun Lake Tribe’s Tribal Historic Preservation Office and Citizen & Community Experience teams, HBG Design helped develop the concept for what would become the Community Block Wall.

Rather than commissioning a single artist to create a finished piece, the vision became something much more personal.

Each handcrafted block represents a member of the Tribal community. Together they showcase photographs, artwork, meaningful imagery, and personal expressions contributed by Tribal citizens themselves. As individual pieces come together, they create a larger story—one that continues to grow with every new contribution.

It’s a living work of art.

Unlike a traditional installation that remains unchanged over time, this wall is designed to evolve alongside the community it represents. New generations will continue adding their own stories, ensuring that the artwork remains as dynamic as the Tribe itself.

Designing for Community Participation

One of the greatest privileges of this project was helping design something that invited participation instead of simply observation.

Hospitality spaces often feature beautiful artwork that guests admire as they move through a lobby. This project encourages something different.

It creates moments of conversation.

Moments of recognition.

Moments where Tribal members can point to a block and say, “That’s my family’s story.”

Those moments transform a space from simply being beautiful into being deeply meaningful.

The Power of Collaboration

Projects like this only happen through genuine collaboration.

The Community Block Wall reflects the vision, dedication, and cultural stewardship of the Gun Lake Tribe, particularly the Tribal Historic Preservation Office’s Archives & Collections Program, whose mission is to preserve and share the rich history and traditions of the Pottawatomi people.

HBG Design’s role was not to tell that story for the Tribe.

It was to help create the framework where those stories could be shared authentically.

A Living Legacy

Seeing the Community Block Wall unveiled in the Gun Lake Resort lobby was an incredibly rewarding moment—not because a design was complete, but because a new tradition was beginning.

Years from now, more blocks will be added.

More stories will be shared.

Children will grow up seeing their families represented alongside generations before them.

Visitors will experience not only an extraordinary resort, but also a living expression of the community that calls this place home.

As designers, we hope every project creates a lasting impression.

This one has the opportunity to create something even more meaningful: a lasting legacy.

At HBG Design, we believe the most impactful hospitality environments are those that reflect the people, history, and culture of the communities they serve. The Community Block Wall at Gun Lake Resort stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, storytelling, and design that invites people to become part of the experience.