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Michigan casino wins architectural award

WILLIAMSBURG, Michigan -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Architectural firm Walsh Bishop received a G2E Casino Design Award for its design superiority for the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel. Recognized for "Best Architectural Design for a Casino Resort Under $200M", this award of distinction was presented during the Global Gaming Expo at their annual Casino Design Awards Luncheon. Now in its 6th year, the Casino Design Awards are the only honors that specifically award excellence in casino resort design, architecture and construction.

As recipients of this esteemed honor, Turtle Creek's architectural features are among the best within the casino resort field. "We are pleased and honored to be recognized for this award," says Shawn Carlson, Director of Marketing for the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel. "Our partners and staff have worked tirelessly to make Turtle Creek a success and this award is a testament to their efforts, but most of all none of this would be capable without the vision and direction of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indian tribe."

Walsh Bishop's design for Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel drew inspiration from its pristine northern Michigan setting, and is reflected throughout the 360,000 square foot property. "At the heart of the Turtle Creek project is the process of blending an understanding of the business model with innovative design solutions. The result is a strikingly modern design that showcased many of the natural elements surrounding the property," says Keith O'Brien, vice president of Walsh Bishop's Entertainment & Hospitality Group. "That process lead us to the use of earth tone colors, sustainable materials and barrier free layouts that help uniquely transform this entertainment destination."

Visitors to Turtle Creek marvel, as the building appears to rise up from the earth, taking cues from the local shoreline's sloping surfaces. The "Turtle Creek brown" exterior features two large reflecting pools, 12 champion Norway Maple trees, and a glass and steel porte cochere that captures the seasonal qualities of the year through LED lighting illumination.

Walsh Bishop's noteworthy attention to detail continues inside the casino. Multiple levels enhance the visitor experience as they move throughout the casino floor, ascend to other entertainment areas, and into the 137-room hotel Visually uniting the casino and hotel is an impressive skylight, bisecting the entire structure. Combined with several windows, these cuts in the building help to connect the inside to the surrounding landscape and sky.

The eco-friendly structure features a 2,400-square foot Green Roof - a rarity for a casino, natural lighting to reduce energy consumption for lighting the casino floor by nearly 50 percent, and through the use of several sustainable materials, Turtle Creek not only reflects its natural settings, but also aids in its preservation.

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