“The spaces inside the restaurant are held together via materials and lighting,” Scott says. “We didn’t seek to create continuity between Tado and the casino. The entry includes a fireplace and custom black oak bench. Patrons then enter the bar or move into the dining space to both the private dining and the teppanyaki room, framed by steel entrances to create a distinct experience.”
“‘Tado’ is Mdewakanton for ‘meat,’ and we wanted to symbolically reference this idea using custom built steel wall panels and entry ‘flames’ to evoke the act of grilling an unadorned cut of fresh, locally raised beef or bison to perfection,” says Scott.
“The main challenge was to create a design that established a new direction for the casino and changed the public’s perception of what was important to the Prairie Island Community,” says Scott. “The new design would break with the casino’s existing tropical theme and introduce a fresh, more modern look.”
Steel wall panels, fabricated using raw metal acid washed to create an aged look, and seal coated to preserve the final finish, were installed and mounted using a “Z-clip” system on plywood. “We worked with the fabricator to align the horizontal panel joints and conceal and rough edges,” explains Scott.
Patrons enter the teppenyaki room via sliding Shoji screen doors, which reveal interiors clad in a custom cherry blossom wallcovering.
A private dining space features a custom steel entry flanked with wine racks, soft cut crystal glass pendants, and a large custom wood ceiling.
“Dimmable general lighting is concealed in the wood ceiling beams, while white globe pendants are equipped with a warm fixture to provide a relaxing feel,” says Lundgren. “The specialty pendant lights that were chosen have structure and sparkle to their design.”