EwingCole, an award-winning, international architecture and engineering firm based in Philadelphia, has designed a new Casino for Hialeah Park Race Track. This is the first project of a master plan developed to revive the historic racetrack. EwingCole’s renderings of the new facility were revealed at a groundbreaking ceremony in Hialeah, Fl. It is expected to open in the fall of 2012.
“We worked closely with Hialeah Park’s owner John Brunetti, Sr. to develop his vision for a comprehensive entertainment resort that supports the rich tradition and revitalization of the entire 200-acre Hialeah Park property and the entertainment industry in Florida,” said Donald Dissinger, AIA, lead architect and principal of EwingCole’s sports & entertainment practice. “The plan includes preservation of the historic buildings and gardens, the reconstruction of the backstretch facilities and the creation of an urban entertainment district including development opportunities for racing, gaming, resort and business hotels, retail and restaurants and a metro rail station and business complex for the City of Hialeah.”
Hialeah Park, from its inception, was a destination experience in a lush landscape, a place for anyone to spend the day at the races, enjoy the palatial surroundings and get away from the everyday hustle and bustle. The history of Hialeah Park has been an evolving story, and the new Casino development is a contemporary interpretation emphasizing Hialeah’s unique sense of place. The overall design pays homage to the venue’s horseracing heritage, historic landscaping and draws on the existing French Mediterranean architectural style created by Lester Geisler, the young protégé of society architect Addison Mizner.
This project includes the renovation of the existing north Grandstand Building and the construction of a two-story addition, a porte-cochere and a network of covered arcades and elevated terraces surrounding the revitalized historic paddock and Flamingo Fountain garden. The 180,000-sf addition includes a 1,250 slot gaming floor, a poker mezzanine with 36 tables, a 90-seat casino lounge and a 180-seat dining village.
“To allow guests the opportunity to enjoy the tradition and grandeur of Hialeah Park, the master plan and design includes amenities that encourage a new generation of patrons to return to Hialeah Park again and again and linger after the races have concluded,” explained Dissinger. “The revitalization of Hialeah Park will once again contribute to the legacy of destination entertainment resort experiences seen throughout Florida and will provide financial and economic growth for the City of Hialeah, Dade County and the State.” BD+C
Related Stories
Architects | May 20, 2016
NCARB survey indicates continued growth of U.S. architects
The number of U.S. architects surpassed 110,000 in 2015, a 2% increase from the previous year.
Multifamily Housing | May 19, 2016
Architect Jean Nouvel designs flood-resilient Monad Terrace in Miami Beach
A man-made lagoon with lush vegetation at the base of the complex is expected to adapt to climate change and rising sea levels.
Building Team Awards | May 19, 2016
Chinatown library unites and serves two emerging Chicago neighborhoods
The 16,000-sf, pebble-shaped Chinatown Branch Library was built at the intersection of new and old Chinatown neighborhoods. The goal is for the building to unite the communities and serve as a catalyst for the developing area.
Building Team Awards | May 19, 2016
NYC subway station lights the way for 300,000 riders a day
Fulton Center, which handles 85% of the riders coming to Lower Manhattan, is like no other station in the city’s vast underground transit web—and that’s a good thing.
Market Data | May 17, 2016
Modest growth for AIA’s Architecture Billings Index in April
The American Institute of Architects reported the April ABI score was 50.6, down from the mark of 51.9 in the previous month. This score still reflects an increase in design services.
Architects | May 16, 2016
AIA and HOK partner to advance Design and Health Research Consortium
The groups' key priority is to identify and develop practice-focused opportunities for funded research, publications, and tools in the area of design and public health.
Senior Living Design | May 16, 2016
Perkins Eastman releases white paper on biophilic design in senior living
The paper highlights some of the firm's top projects that feature biophilic design, a sustainable architecture strategy that connects people with nature.
Architects | May 16, 2016
3 strategies to creating environments that promote workplace engagement
VOA's Pablo Quintana writes that the industry is looking for ways to increase engagement through a mix of spaces suited to employees' desire for both privacy and connection.
Architects | May 11, 2016
AIA to create a resilience curriculum for architects
The program will teach resilient design and decision-making on hazard mitigation, climate adaptation and community resilience.
Retail Centers | May 10, 2016
5 factors guiding restaurant design
Restaurants are more than just places to eat. They are comprising town centers and playing into the future of brick-and-mortar retail.
