Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/354800
casino facades was chosen to provide colourful saw-tooth elements, solid and open, that balance those of the hotel. The main change between the initial design concept and the final plan was the inclusion of conference and meeting rooms. "At the beginning they weren't a program requirement, but as we moved forward we realized the importance of adding 8,800 square feet of space to accommodate conventions and other business functions," says Northcote. A swimming pool and restaurant were also relocated in later design evolutions. The inspiration for the interior came from the Tsuu T'ina Nation and its rela- tionship with nature. "Elements of the past were incorporated with the mod- ern world," says Emon Lou, principal of interior design at NORR Ltd., who worked closely with Furniture by Asti and the rest of the team. "Rich textures, bold patterns and a natural palette were used to create an atmosphere of con- temporary elegance," she adds. The carpet is a Google map of the Tsuu T'ina Nation land. Visitors can see the layout of the landscape when looking down from above. "NORR has designed a hotel interior that incorpo- rates all the expected modern ameni- ties, as well as paying homage to the Tsuu T'ina Nation's land and culture in which it is settled," explains Lou. Marco Group's Walker describes the construction process as fairly unevent- ful, even though ground broke in Octo- ber of 2012 and the expanded casino had to be ready by May of the following year. "Thanks to working with the own- ers and architects in the past, we had good communication and were able to meet very exacting timelines," he says. "At peak we had up to 300 people on site. About the only adverse condition was major rainfalls last year that squeezed things a bit." Northcote adds that long lead times were required for material deliveries to the event centre. "There we needed 125 feet of clear span, so the proper co-ordi- nation of steel arriving on site became crucial," he says. All parties agree that the outcome is a model for how casino resorts should be developed. "It's a large scale project that was accomplished very efficiently," says Walker. Northcote adds, "It was one of the least confrontational projects I've worked on in years. Grey Eagle Resort & Casino's strong design, maintained through a series of budget reviews and a fast-track construction, reflects the value created by this collaborative effort." n LOCATION 3777 Grey Eagle Drive, Calgary, Alberta OWNER/DEVELOPER Sonco Group Inc. / Tsuu T'ina Hospitality Limited Partnership / Tsuu T'ina Gaming Limited Partnership ARCHITECT/INTERIOR DESIGN NORR Limited GENERAL CONTRACTOR Marco Group STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT MMP Structural Engineering Ltd. MECHANICAL/ ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Hemisphere Engineering Inc. CIVIL ENGINEER MPE Engineering Ltd. BUILDING ENVELOPE CONSULTANT Williams Engineering Canada TOTAL SIZE 84,000 square feet (existing casino); 9,030 square feet (casino expansion); 122,645 square feet (hotel); 56,350 square feet (Event Centre) TOTAL COST $65 million COURTESY SONCO GROUP INC. AUGUST 2014 /93 Grey Eagle Resort & Casino