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...Sandia Pueblo and Santa Anna Pueblo in New Mexico and the San Carlos Apaches in Arizona.
McCarthy also built the previous phase, the $70-million Casino Del Sol, in 2001. The project was notable for its simulated sky above the casino interior.
Wendell Long, chief executive officer of Sol Casinos, says the tourism slowdown after Sept. 11 led the tribe to postpone building the expansion until now.
“We’ve thought out every element of this project many times, and it’s nice to have both McCarthy and Leo A Daly working on it,” Long says. “They’re both familiar with the project, know us and have some of the same people still working for them who worked on the first project a decade ago.”
An advantage to working with tribes, Long points out, “is that tribes have good cash flow because of the casinos, which builders like because they know they will get paid.”
Amy Clark, vice president and director of operations for Leo A Daly, says tribal projects are interesting architecturally.
“The gaming projects have casinos, restaurants, bars, public and private spaces,” she says. “In a way, they’re small cities, which makes them great projects to work on. It’s also fulfilling to work with the tribal members.”
Key Players:
Owner: Pascua Yaqui Tribe
Architect: Leo A Daly
General Contractor: McCarthy Building Cos.
Engineers: Landa & Associates; PK Associates; Taylor Rymar Corp.; Wood, Patel & Associates
Landscape Design: Sage Landscape
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