Step inside a traditional casino in downtown Las Vegas and what do you see? More importantly, how do you feel? The atmosphere is gloomy; it is windowless, dark and smoky, and the customers are seemingly lethargic after spending hours on the same slot machine. The allure of these types of casinos is the prospect of winning money, not enjoying the surroundings. However, this traditional concept has begun to change, and Native American casino owners are picking up on it — and profiting.
The idea of having a more welcoming, relaxing casino environment has started to catch on in the industry. Customers are realizing that they now have the option of spending time in more resort-like casinos, and they want to. Many casinos are achieving this desired look through the use of daylighting, a technique that airports, schools, retail spaces and healthcare providers have already implemented with great results.
Daylighting is an effective design technique that involves the use of windows to admit natural diffused light into an area. Studies have shown the many benefits of natural daylight on a person’s mood and ability to focus. School children learn faster and do better on tests, retails sales are higher, and employees tend to work more efficiently and call in sick less often. These results have inspired designers to translate this technique to the gaming industry.
So far, the market that has implemented daylighting in casinos the most has been the Native American gaming market. Nature is a significant cultural aspect of many tribes, and windows allow them to keep that connection while showcasing their beautiful natural surroundings. However, casinos located in expansive natural areas are not the only places that can utilize daylighting successfully. Daylighting creates a sense of openness and relaxation in a space that metropolitan casinos can surely benefit from.
The Design Process
Daylighting is not as simple as adding windows to an existing design. A successfully day-lit space requires a harmonious balance of sunlight while controlling the amount of glare and heat. The daylight system must be designed specifically to bounce light within the space from an unidentifiable source, preventing heat gain from offsetting the energy-saving benefits of natural daylight.
Before a designer begins the design process, it would be wise to review local gaming laws. Some jurisdictions prohibit gaming equipment from being viewed from the outside of gaming establishments. This review will help designers determine the limitations on the number of windows and possible locations prior to the initial client consultation.
The first step in the design process is to know the site. One way for a designer to become familiar with the site is to conduct a panoramic study. Using a “cherry picker” crane is an easy way to reach an elevation that is high enough to take photographs of the entire perimeter. These photographs will help in the evaluation of the quality of light and where the best views come from.
The orientation of the building is key when it comes to implementing the daylighting technique. The most difficult orientations to work with are those from the east and the west, due to the sun’s rising and setting. The best light generally comes from the north, as it is softer and naturally filtered. It is important for the designer to take note of the quality and directionality of the sunlight. Without proper consideration, the daylighting technique will not produce the intended positive outcome.
The time of day also plays an important role when designing with natural light. Subtle color changes occur naturally from dawn to dusk. The location of the space and the seasons affect the color of daylight as well. The quality of light is different in Hawaii than in England. What a designer would do in Honolulu might not have the same effect in a similar building space found in London. This is why it is important to know the site.
After conducting the site study, the designer takes the client’s needs and, with proper planning and creativity, creates a daylighting design that is aesthetically pleasing as well as functional and cost effective. Although occasionally the client’s needs may not be achievable due to the findings of the study or gaming restrictions, the end result will be a remarkable building that leaves an impression with customers, bringing them back again and again.
Materials and Techniques
After the orientation of the building is determined, window materials will need to be chosen depending on the amount of daylight coming through each window. Strong rays will need to be diffused or filtered, and glare will need to be stopped at all costs. Well-placed daylight not only aesthetically pleases, but it also aids in the efficiency of a building’s HVAC and electric lighting systems. Although construction costs for windows and shading devices are higher than solid walls, when daylighting is used efficiently, it will cut running costs over the long run.
Directionality will determine the window materials used. Because daylight from the east and west is strong, it requires heavily tinted glass to reduce the intensity and possible glare. Southern light is high in the sky, so overhangs work best.
Daylight changes with the seasons, the time of day and the weather. Regardless of how many windows are incorporated into the design, electric lighting is still critical. An effective daylighting scheme combines natural and artificial light to create efficient light levels and provide the desired distribution of light. It is also important to consider that once the sun sets, the electrical light needs to be a fair competitor to the natural light it is replacing.
Traditionally, windowless casinos use theatrical lighting to cast focus on areas within the space. When daylight is incorporated, however, a variety of lighting types will work within the space. Spaces that do not receive ample daylight will generally need to be lit with theatrical lighting to showcase focal points. The harsh effects of this light can be diminished by placing the light sources closer together. This will give a more even light level to the area.
Another consideration involves the care of delicate and expensive gaming equipment. If a client desires daylighting on the gaming area, the equipment will need to be kept away from direct sunlight. Through the proper use of window materials, such as tinted glass, these machines can be protected against intense heat and light.
The Odawa Casino Resort
The Odawa Casino Resort, owned by The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, is one of the first casinos to use daylighting. The casino sits on a 94-acre site in Petoskey, Mich., near the shores of Lake Michigan. Water plays an important role in the tribe’s culture, and was an element they wanted to capture. As a result, the designers of this project incorporated windows that utilize the perimeter of the building, transforming it into a transparent sheath. One of the windows faces the Little Traverse Bay, and another, located at the end of a promenade, captures the striking sunsets off Lake Michigan. In addition, the designers added a large skylight at the main entrance to bring in more natural light as well as offer views of the night sky. The new casino offers an airy and pleasant atmosphere, and has been considered a success among owners and visitors alike. “This casino is more than just a box,” Tribal Chair Frank Ettawageshik said. “It is a reflection of us, of our people.”
A Lasting Impression
The ambience of a space is what most people remember. As business owners and designers, it is important to create a space in which people want to be. People gravitate toward the feel-good aspects of nature, and what better way to implement nature in a space than incorporating windows?
Daylighting has benefits other than positively affecting people’s moods. Windows create a sense of openness in a space that is lacking in traditional casinos. Daylighting also helps the environment by decreasing the burning of fossil fuels from electric lighting. Less energy use translates into smaller operating costs. With all of the proven benefits of daylight, designing casinos with windows seems a natural evolution. Daylighting is an up-and-coming trend in the gaming industry that owners and designers alike would be remiss to ignore.
Francis Xavier Dumont, AIA, is the Vice President and Director of Design at the Las Vegas office of LEO A DALY. He can be reached at (702) 369-3247 or fxdumont@leoadaly.com.
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