First phase of plan to revitalize Florida's Hialeah Park announced

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