In This Issue
Trade Show News
Silver Reef Casino
Clearwater River Casino
Rainforest Cafe
Current Projects

Trade Show News:

AZA: Please join John Hawkinson and Chris Foster at the upcoming AZA Conference in Kansas City, September 9-12th. Our booth number is 505. We will be showcasing our latest work including the projects highlighted below.
G2E: Jeff Sheiber and John Hawkinson will be representing COST at this year's Global Gaming Conference in booth #4824. Join us September 24th -26th.
CAZA: Chris Foster will be attending the CAZA Conference in Saskatoon September 25th-27th.
IAAPA: COST will be exhibiting at the upcoming IAAPA Convention in Orlando, FL, November 19th-22th. Please visit our staff in booth 4027.

The Silver Reef Casino located in Ferndale, WA recently introduced new additions to the property, including more than 10,000 sq. ft. of new gaming space, a new event center, a 153-seat tiered theater, several meeting rooms, a new cantina-themed restaurant/bar, and new outdoor landscape. The landscape plan called for a new water feature which faced the front of the casino.

Chris Foster, COST's VP of Sales and Marketing, explained that his team began by taking the architect's sketches and developing them into working drawings, including all lighting, mechanical, and filtration systems. "The design intent was developed through the architect’s office and we worked closely with the architect and owner to ensure the water feature would meet their expectations." "We also worked with casino operations staff to design the mechanical and filtration systems due to unique water conditions." Due to high winds in the area, the water feature was designed with several rock outcroppings to protect the taller falls from spilling outside of the containment pond. Finally, the feature had to be loud enough to drown out parking lot noise and create a more soothing environment. Once the drawings were approved, a half-inch scale clay model was constructed as a check point for the owner's and architect's approval.

After a significant design phase, the result is a main rock feature stands over ten feet tall with a nine foot primary falls and several secondary falls. The feature turns over about 1,000 gallons per minute. The waterfall creates a loud roar that overpowers the parking lot noise and can be heard from the casino entry. The water feature has been a hit with casino customers with many stopping over to view the waterfalls and for a photo opportunity.

The project team included Aecon Building Company, General Contractor, MBA Reno Architecture, Design Solutions-id3 Inc., interior design, and COST of Wisconsin, Inc. water feature contractor.

Silver Reef Casino

This summer marked a new era in gaming at the recently expanded and remodeled Clearwater River Casino in Lewiston, ID. The new facility boasts a larger gaming space and event center. The new gaming facility includes several thematic areas that are tied to the cultural heritage of the Nez Perce Tribe. The entry was developed to resemble a Celilo Falls fishing scene prior to March 1957, when the falls were submerged with the implementation of the Dalles Dam. The entry canopy is embellished with decorative metal fishermen. The rocks surrounding the entry doors were sculpted based upon photographs taken of the falls during the 1950's.

Upon entering the casino, a decorative glass feature and programmable LED lighting resemble the look of falling water that fits with the exterior Celilo Falls scene. The high limits area also includes programmable LED effects but with simulated fire features, set between the slot machines. A center “fire pit” area with the same LED fire program is wrapped with a faux river rock base. The river rock is prevalent further down the river from where Celilo Falls once roared.

Another interesting thematic area included a dimensional lumber stylized forest. These elements break up the gaming floor and also are used as decorative column wraps.

The project team included Swinerton Construction, Bellevue, WA, Seattle based Group West Architects, and COST as the theme contractor.

Clearwater River Casino

COST of Wisconsin, Inc. was selected to invigorate Downtown Disney's skyline by building one of its most prominent features, an active volcano feature at the Rainforest Cafe. The volcano, lighting, fog, and pyrotechnics are all part of a show that erupts every 15 minutes. Disney's premier shopping and eating venue is visited by locals and tourists from around the world and few can take their eyes off the show once it begins.

This complex project was developed through a creative design process with Minnesota based Cuningham Group Architecture, Landry's Restaurants, Disney and COST of Wisconsin, Inc. The project consisted of several materials and construction methods to bring the idea to fruition. A concrete, hand carved rockwork process was used at the base of the volcano transitioning to a combination of shotcrete and fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) at the lava tube. COST drew upon its sister company's (Refractory Service Incorporated) experience in the furnace industry to develop the interior lining of the volcano. This was required due to the intense pyrotechnics that were used to create the eruption effect.

Rainforest Cafe

The Short List
A Few Projects Underway

• Assiniboine Park Zoo, Journey to Churchill
• Universal Studios, Orlando, FL
• Wonders of Wildlife, Springfield, MO
• Edmonton Valley Zoo, Wander Exhibit
• Williston Recreation Center and Water Park
• Pikes Peak Hill Climb Museum
• Audubon Zoo, Asian elephants
• Art Institute of Chicago
• Toledo Zoo, Penguins
• Silverleaf's Orlando Breeze Resort
  
  
  Stay tuned for more details on these and other projects