Mar 5 2010
With the grand opening of the Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant, OK on February 9th, a massive three-year project came to completion for the lighting and audio/video consulting firm Nautilus Entertainment Design (NED).
NED was charged with all interior lighting and audio/video design including the installation supervision and commissioning of those components.
Owned and operated by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the resort is a much-needed addition to the very successful original casino resort. Designed by the architectural firm WorthGroup, NED worked closely with their Vice President of Design, Brian Hamlin, to create elements that spoke of the Choctaw Nation and their relationship with their past but interpreted with a modern flair.
For lighting, NED and the architectural firm designed close to 200 custom chandeliers and lighting features for the building. The most striking are three video chandeliers composed of 4 x 4 foot boxes containing LED panels. These chandeliers display video images through their crystal-encrusted exterior to set the mood and ambiance for the elevator lobby.
A hallmark of NED design is to give the owner great versatility with the lighting and audio/video systems. The Choctaw audio/video system allows employees the flexibility to select what video and/or audio feeds are appropriate at any time for their clientele. The digital signage system, consisting of 42 different channels of streaming content, offers the ability to change feeds to any of the facility's 190 displays. Guests can request their choice of program on any of the 24 video monitors located in the gambling table areas. Programming choices can also be made in the spa depending on the client's mood. The most flexibility is offered in the Diamondback Cabaret Lounge. A live feed of the performance can be sent not only to the large side screen in the lounge, but also to the numerous monitors throughout the casino and ancillary spaces.
An interesting challenge occurred concerning the architectural lighting of the gaming floor. "The casino ceiling consists of undulating tiles at various elevations designed to organically flow into wall structures. A wide variety of lighting fixtures and mounting techniques needed to be invented in order to place the lights where required," commented Denis McCubbin, project manager/designer for NED.
NED is now in the planning stages with the WorthGroup for the renovation of the original Durant Choctaw casino that will include all lighting and audio/visual design services.