Project Profile - Four Winds Casino Resort, New Buffalo, MI

Posted Thu February 11 2010 in Project Profiles

The Property

Four Winds Casino Resort, located in New Buffalo, Michigan, was constructed on Sovereign property and opened on August 2, 2007. The Casino Resort is owned by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and was developed by Lakes Entertainment, Inc. The project consisted of an approximately 275,000 square foot casino with 3,000 slot machines, 100 table games, six restaurants, three bars, retail spaces, a child care center, back-of-house operations, and administrative offices. On site there was also a six-story, 168-room Hotel, a four-story, 2,200-car Parking Garage, a single-story 9,500 square foot electrical/generator building and a two-story, 43,000 square foot Human Resources Building.

Our Role

Rolf Jensen & Associates, Inc. (RJA) served as the Building Official for this project, performing services assigned to a Building Official in the Michigan Building Code. RJA conducted permit drawing reviews, construction inspections, witnessed testing, reviewed and approved alternate methods as well as oversaw subcontractors who inspected construction and systems in the building: electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire protection, civil, elevator and health disciplines.

Challenges

The project originally began in 2000. Before construction could commence in 2001, a series of unexpected events brought the project to a halt for over five years. After resolution was achieved, the Tribe wanted to expedite the construction of the project and turned to RJA to help them achieve their goal. RJA successfully oversaw multiple disciplines to meet an ambitious opening date of August 2007, which was only fourteen months from the start of construction.

Solution

We were able to facilitate the completion of the Four Winds by providing staff on site five to seven days a week during construction to mitigate any problems that might cause delays, conduct inspections and witness testing, and coordinate efforts by five subcontractors. The Tribe and contractor have indicated on several occasions that RJA’s dedication to the project and onsite presence contributed to successfully opening the Casino Resort with such an aggressive construction schedule.

The Four Winds Casino Resort doesn’t have any intention of slowing down. Even with the size of this property, there are already plans to expand!

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