Glendale, Arizona’s Desert Diamond West Valley Casino is the second casino in the U.S. to receive the Green Globes for New Construction certification . Comprising the first phase of a forthcoming resort property, the 50,000-square-foot casino is currently owned and operated by the Tohono O’odham Nation.
Numerous standouts of the casino, designed by Memphis-based Hnedak Bobo Group (HBG), were cited in its designation. An integrated design process entailed regular review of performance goals throughout the many stages of construction to ensure that sustainability measures were met. The structure was also built within half a mile of a commercial zone on a previously developed site away from vulnerable areas and out of the reach of a flood plain. Considerable mind was paid to the soil type and plant locations in order to sustain drought-tolerant plant life while stormwater control elements have also been incorporated. Light spillover and glare have been reduced thanks to a unique lighting design and efficient fixtures in the parking lot. An erosion control plan also minimizes disruption to the local species and habitats and enhances the area’s ecology.
Carpeting made from recyclable materials, and the use of paint instead of vinyl wallcoverings reflects the transitional nature of the phase-one casino, which will revert to a warehouse space upon the opening of the larger resort casino.
