The new Downstream Casino Resort, located in northeast Oklahoma, offers 70,000 sq. ft. of casino floor space plus a 12-story hotel with all of the amenities of Las Vegas. An integral component of the interior theming of the casino, owned by the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma, is the use of radiuses and curves to reflect the history of the tribe’s movement down the Ohio River to the Mississippi River and eventually west to Oklahoma.

Designed by JCJ Architecture, Hartford, CT, the Downstream Casino project utilized more than 10,000 feet of Flex-C Angle® and nearly 9,000 feet of Flex-C Trac®. The Flex-C Trac and Flex-C Angle systems provide an easy way for builders to frame high quality curves by utilizing a simple, flexible metal track or plate for use with wood or metal studs.

Installation of the Flex-C Trac and Flex-C Angle was done by Green Country Interiors, Tulsa. The job was on a tight schedule in order to be completed by the much-publicized grand opening date of July 4, 2008. “We ran crews day and night plus weekends,” said Tim McGuire, field superintendent for Green Country. “We’ve used lots of Flex products very successfully on several other jobs. We’re a firm believer in it. It’s perfect for jigging up and pre-forming radiuses. It allows us to form an application and set it aside until we’re ready for it. We used it everywhere—ovals, radius steps and some really big radius centerpieces. It works right out of the box and holds its shape really well.”

The greatest challenge, according to McGuire, was the coordination of manpower, equipment and timing with other trades. “We had hundreds of lifts at the site. Whenever we’re under the gun like that, all of the other trades are, too. The general contractor did a great job of coordinating and organizing,” McGuire said.

The general contractor on the project was Manhattan Construction Company, Tulsa. The distributor for the Flex-Ability Concepts products was Magnum Materials, Broken Arrow, OK.