ALABAMA STATE EDITION
231
65
72 Florence
2
Huntsville
20 Decatur
72
565 59
43
A Supplement to:
231
431
31
5
Gadsden
78 59 Anniston
20
Birmingham Bessemer
82 Tuscaloosa
65 280
20 82 Auburn
80
85
Selma
Phenix City
Montgomery
82
November 11 2015 Vol. XXVIII • No. 23
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“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.”
Dothan
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Mobile
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Your Alabama Connection • Rich Olivier, Atlanta, GA • 1-800-409-1479
Sights, Sounds of Beale Street Inspire Renovation Inspired by the colors, sights and “Demolition of a portion of the building started in ed. Crews managed to carry out the task, which included sounds of Memphis’ famed Beale November of 2014, and the entire structure has now been rerouting chilled water lines and managing electrical feeds, Street, Creek Casino Montgomery is completed. The building has been dried-in, and all of the without disrupting a fully operational casino. undergoing a $65 million renovation that will feature more major HVAC equipment has been set. All of the HVAC duct The basic structure is a light steel frame perched on a twothan 2,200 gaming machines, a luxury hotel and full-service work has been installed, and the main electrical service has foot thick post tension foundation. The land itself brings salon once construction is completed in late 2015. A fine been connected and is operational.” challenges not generally associated with most construction dining restaurant and a blues club offering live nightly music The tear down involved approximately 60,000 sq. ft. projects. also will be included at the expanded facility, to be renamed (5,574 sq m) of casino floor, administration, kitchen and “The whole area is archeologically sensitive, as far as Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Montgomery. back of house/service areas. The demolition took approxi- buried artifacts, etc.,” Angus said. “We didn’t want to dig At the helm of the massive upgrade is the Creek Indian mately four weeks, as the foundation was larger than expect- down into the dirt. We wanted to stay above grade. We actuEnterprises Development Authority (CIEDA). ally raised the building up on top of fill to preserve CIEDA executes and oversees building, constructhe historical significance of the site. tion and development projects commissioned by “The top three floors of the hotel are done with the Poarch Creek Tribe. a light metal pre-fab metal stud partition that was “We have the distinct pleasure, under the direcdelivered in sections and set up. We were able to tion of Tribal Council, to design and manage conkeep weight down and not have to go into the struction projects for the Tribe,” said James T. ground with foundations. Martin, president and CEO of CIEDA. “While “The idea was that once you enter through the utilizing Native American contractors wherever porte-cochere and come inside the building, it’s possible, we have to date successfully executed as if you are entering the corner of Beale Street over a half billion dollars in commercial construcand Second Avenue,” Angus said. “We found tion, and have plans for even more in the future.” someone who does a lot of demo of old brick The Poarch Creeks, operating as PCI Gaming structures, and we were able to get a whole lot of Authority, already operate a 46,000-sq. ft. (4,273 old brick that had come down. They slice it in half, sq m) gambling floor casino at the site. The so it’s really a facade. I'm very pleased with how Poarch Band of Creek Indians also own the Wind things are coming along. I think this project is Creek Casino & Hotels in Wetumpka and Atmore, going to be in its own style, probably one of the Ala. best facilities we have. The Montgomery renovation was structured in Angus said the thought process was two-fold. phases, with Phase I including the game floor, the The firm wanted to expand the gaming operation new blues club and the back-of-house operations. and make it seamless. The four-story hotel is considered Phase II con“Over the years, like any other facility, you struction. Work on the long-awaited expansion, build one segment and then keep adding to it. We which has been in the planning stages for a while, took down what was there prior to 2010. All of is likely to be finished by the end of this year. that is gone. We’ve opened things up so that it According to Jim Angus, construction project now looks like one big casino floor, giving people controls manager, CIEDA, project management a more open, exciting atmosphere.” group, “One of the biggest challenges has been Patrons also will have a variety of food options coordinating the construction around an operating when work is completed. facility. Because this addition replaces a portion “The first of those is Lucille’s Eatery, named of the existing facility and is an extension of the after King’s beloved guitar. That fast-casual spot remaining building, it has been crucial that the opened in January. Now, with the introduction of operations group work closely with the construcB.B. King’s Blues Club and Restaurant, we have tion group in order to minimize the disruption to a major entertainment and food venue, plus 123 existing building services, and to the customer’s CIEDA photo rooms in a hotel that we didn’t have before. This level of satisfaction. Portions of the remaining Inspired by the colors, sights and sounds of Memphis’ famed Beale Street, fills out the balance of what we had in this facilibuildings also required some renovation so that Creek Casino Montgomery is undergoing a $65 million renovation that will ty.” the completed facility will have a seamless feature more than 2,200 gaming machines, a luxury hotel and full-service Jake Carlton, the casino’s property manager, appearance. salon once construction is completed in late 2015. see CASINO page 2
By Cindy Riley
CEG CORRESPONDENT