Leo A. Daly and McCarthy Building to Join Grand Opening for Casino Del Sol Expansion

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. November 09, 2011

November 8, 2011 - On Nov. 11, 2011 Casino Del Sol and the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in Tucson, Ariz., celebrate the completion and grand opening of a $130 million, 161,000-square-foot hotel, spa and convention center addition to their existing casino facility.

The expansion, which began construction only 18 months ago, adds 215 new luxury hotel rooms, along with a conference center that can accommodate up to 2,000 people. The addition also brings a new fine-dining steakhouse that can accommodate up to 100, an international buffet with seating up to 250, an elaborate lobby lounge and bar, a full spa and outdoor pool with sundeck, exercise facilities, a warehouse and a four-level covered parking structure for 1,100 vehicles.

The design and construction team, comprised of international architecture and engineering firm LEO A DALY, contractor McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. and owner's representative Innovation Project Development (IPD), partnered with the casino's executive management team and Pascua Yaqui Tribal Council members to create an amenity-rich, Four-Diamond property that creates a destination center for tourists, corporate meetings and conventions, and Tucson-area residents.

“McCarthy and LEO A DALY were selected as our builder and architect because of their long-time partnership with the tribe, their high quality of work while sticking to a budget, and their dedication toward tribal employment,” said Sol Casinos CEO Wendell Long. “We already have the most beautiful casino in Arizona, and with this expansion, our design and construction team have helped us to further enhance our property and bring a new level of service to our guests.”

“The tribe has gone to the next level to create an elegant resort and memorable experiences for visitors,” said Ronn Lansky, associate and executive director for LEO A DALY's Phoenix office.

The resort's most prominent design feature, an illuminated copper dome topping the 10-story hotel, serves as a beacon for guests and exemplifies the Tuscan theme found throughout the casino and the resort addition. The dome, built out of perforated copper and housing color-changing LED lights, measures 26 feet in diameter and 26 feet tall and weighs 11,000 pounds. A major construction milestone was celebrated on Feb. 9, 2011, when McCarthy hoisted the massive dome into place atop the hotel, marking the topping-off of the project.

“The design bar has been raised beyond the existing casino, providing new amenities including fine dining, upscale bar and lounge areas, and refined meeting, convention and events spaces,” said Patricia Miller, vice president, managing principal of the Dallas office and corporate director of hospitality for LEO A DALY.

During the 18-month construction schedule, McCarthy Building Companies worked quickly and efficiently to meet all major deadlines, ultimately delivering the completed hotel guest rooms more than one month early thanks to the firm's innovative scheduling process. In early October, McCarthy delivered on-time the certificate of occupancy to Casino Del Sol. This expansion project added 500 construction jobs and 300 permanent jobs to the local economy.

The resort incorporated sustainability principles throughout its design and construction, earning it inclusion in the Arizona Hotel & Lodging Association's Certified Green Lodging Program. Tribal leaders also are participating in a Sustainability Education Empowerment Development (SEED) Initiative that will implement standards to conserve natural resources, reduce waste and decrease pollution.

The Pascua Yaqui Tribe will host several grand opening events this month, including a dedication ceremony, private access for VIP players, and live musical entertainment. Highlights include:

• Nov. 4-7: Soft opening of hotel rooms, PY Steakhouse, Prema lobby bar and Hiapsi spa • Nov. 9: Media Night • Nov. 11: First guest check-in at 11:11 a.m.; afternoon reception at Prema bar and lounge; ribbon-cutting at 5 p.m. and fireworks display at 6 p.m. at Pool Deck; Pepe Aguilar, Alejandro Guzman and Intocable concert at 7:30 p.m. at AVA Amphitheater; Tejano All Stars free concert at 10:30 p.m. at the event center • Nov. 12: Tim McGraw at 7:30 p.m. at AVA Amphitheater; Cheap Trick free concert at 10:30 p.m. at the event center

“We were privileged to work with the tribe and hotel management team on another Casino Del Sol expansion, and it's a thrill to celebrate its opening with the community,” said Dennis Tucker, executive vice president for McCarthy's Southwest business services. “The team's clear vision for the new hotel and conference center provided great direction for us to efficiently construct this major addition, on a property that is already known as a jewel of Tucson.”

About LEO A DALY Established in 1915, LEO A DALY is an internationally renowned architecture, planning, engineering, interior design and program management firm. The company's portfolio includes award-winning projects in 77 countries, all 50 states and the District of Columbia. LEO A DALY currently employs approximately 1,000 architects, planners, engineers and interior designers in over 30 offices worldwide. The firm consistently ranks in the top 10 largest architecture, engineering and interior design firms in the U.S., and is listed in BD World Architecture's top 25 global practices. For more information, visit www.leoadaly.com.