The winners of Global Gaming Expo’s Casino Design Awards—the pre-eminent design awards program for the gaming industry—presented last month at G2E 2012, recognize excellence in architecture, design and construction in the casino entertainment industry.
The pre-eminent prize, the Sarno Award for Lifetime Achievement, named after famed casino builder and visionary Jay Sarno, was presented during the ceremony to the late Terry Lanni, the former chairman and CEO of MGM Mirage (now MGM Resorts International).
“Terry Lanni’s leadership and vision are key reasons for the current state of design on the Las Vegas Strip, and the entire gaming industry. Without his involvement for more than 30 years, our industry literally would look very different,” said Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., president and CEO of the American Gaming Association, which, along with Reed Exhibitions, produces G2E. “We are proud to recognize him with the highest honor the Casino Design Awards can offer.”
MGM Resorts Chairman and CEO James Murren presented the award to Lanni’s wife Debbie and his son, Sean Lanni.
The Casino Design Awards had not been presented since 2009 due to the difficult economic times facing the gaming industry, so this year’s program offered recognition for work completed during two time periods, 2009-2010 and 2011-2012.
The Casino Design Awards were created and are administered by Global Gaming Business magazine and its supplement, Casino Design magazine. An advisory board of architects, designers, builders and consultants established the categories and criteria for the awards.
The judges for G2E’s Casino Design Awards were: Michael Adams, editor-in-chief, Hospitality Design magazine; Robert Maricich, chief executive officer, International Market Center Las Vegas; Richard Poulos, director of commercial markets, NBBJ Architects; David Schwartz, director, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Center For Gaming Research; and Katherine Spilde, associate professor, San Diego State University, School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.
The winners of the Casino Design Awards for 2009-2010 are:
Best Architectural Design under $250 Million for a Casino or Casino Resort
JCJ Architecture, Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, Arizona
Best Architectural Design over $250 Million for a Casino or Casino Resort
Friedmutter Group Architects, The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas
Best Architectural Re-Design and/or Expansion for a Casino or Casino Resort
WorthGroup Architects, Choctaw Casino Resort, Oklahoma
Best Overall Interior Design for a Casino or Casino Resort
Friedmutter Group Architects, The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas
Best Interior Design for a Casino Resort Restaurant or Nightclub
Friedmutter Group Architects, Bond Bar at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas
Best Interior Design for a Casino or Casino Resort Excluding a Restaurant or Nightclub
Friedmutter Group Architects, The Pool District at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas
Best Overall Construction Project for a Casino or Casino Resort under $250 Million
Climans Green Liang Architects, Meadows Race Track & Casino, Pennsylvania
Best Overall Construction Project for a Casino or Casino Resort over $250 Million
Tutor Perini Building Corporation, The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas
Best Native American Casino Facility Limited to Casinos or Casino Resorts
Hnedak Bobo Group, Northern Quest Resort Casino, Washington
Best Specialty Consulting/Innovation Performance
Creative Lighting Design & Engineering, Firekeepers Casino, Michigan
The winners of the Casino Design Awards for 2011-2012 are:
Best Architectural Design under $250 Million for a Casino or Casino Resort
Hnedak Bobo Group, Four Winds Hartford Casino, Michigan
Best Architectural Design over $250 Million for a Casino or Casino Resort
BLT Architects, Arquitectonica, SOSH Architects, Revel, Atlantic City
Best Architectural Re-Design and/or Expansion for a Casino or Casino Resort
Cuningham Group Architecture, Golden Nugget Casino Resort Atlantic City
Best Overall Interior Design for a Casino or Casino Resort
BLT Architects, Arquitectonica, SOSH Architects, Revel, Atlantic City
Best Interior Design for a Casino Resort Restaurant or Nightclub
WorthGroup Architects, Gilley’s at Choctaw Casino Resort, Oklahoma
Best Interior Design for a Casino or Casino Resort Excluding a Restaurant or Nightclub
Sceno Plus, Ovation Hall at Revel, Atlantic City
Best Landscape Design for a Casino or Casino Resort
BLT Architects, Arquitectonica, SOSH Architects, Revel, Atlantic City
Best Overall Construction Project for a Casino or Casino Resort under $250 Million
PCL Construction, Mystic Lake Casino Renovation, Minnesota
Best Overall Construction Project for a Casino or Casino Resort over $250 Million
BLT Architects, Arquitectonica, SOSH Architects, Revel, Atlantic City
Best Native American Casino Facility Limited to Casinos or Casino Resorts
Hnedak Bobo Group, Four Winds Hartford Casino, Michigan
Best Specialty Consulting/Innovation Performance
AE Associates, Ameristar St. Charles Energy Improvement Project, Missouri
