Power to Transform

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CPL Architecture Bally’s Baton Rouge Casino and Hotel • Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Bally’s Baton Rouge has been transformed into a modern, vibrant entertainment destination, converting the historic Belle of Baton Rouge riverboat into a land-based hotel and casino.

The centerpiece of the $144 million redevelopment is a 50,000-square-foot glass-enclosed atrium, once part of a rail and marketplace complex.

“This is one of the most unique facilities in the industry,” said Lauren Westerfield, Bally’s vice president of communications, “the result of work carried out in a building resembling a large greenhouse, where a modern casino space was built under a glass dome.” W.E. O’Neil Construction oversaw the renovation, which opened in December.

To power the transformation, Bally’s turned to SAVI iQ’s AV-over-IP platform, purpose-built for high-energy gaming, sportsbook and resort environments. Implemented by technology integrator Alpha, the solution unifies video distribution, audio control and digital signage into a single, intuitive platform. The challenge was not simply to deploy audio and video systems at scale, but unify them within a complex, historically constrained building while delivering the flexibility and usability expected of a contemporary casino.

“So much of this project came down to how do we take an old historic building and turn it into something completely new without losing the vision for the space,” said Kevin Higginbotham, senior account executive at Alpha. “The design intent was clear: preserve the character of the depot and the atrium. The expectation was equally clear: deliver a technology experience that is highly visual, high-energy and simple to operate.”

The property honors Baton Rouge history and culture, including artifacts from “Catfish Town,” railroad tracks repurposed as lobby beams, and legacy wheel games from the original riverboat. More than 240 new hotel rooms and suites blend Louisiana charm with contemporary style. The reimagined resort sets the standard for downtown entertainment in Baton Rouge.