Creating a positive experience for customers is any business owner’s goal. Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Altoona, Iowa, opened in 1995 to large crowds and excited gamblers. This excitement, however, did not last. With dwindling customers and revenue, the gaming commission recently approved a large, multi-phased renovation in an effort to enhance the gaming experience and attract business. Dri-Design contributed to the new contemporary look and architectural finishes of the casino with the interior installation of Shadow Series Panels.
Shadow Series brings dimension to buildings on the inside and outside because each panel face can be extended to varying depths based on the design and material choice of the project. This customization offers design flexibility and architectural creativity for any structure.
“Although the panels have varying depths, the integrity of the patented rainscreen system is still sound,” said Brad Zeeff, president of Dri-Design. “The substrate is located in the same plane, and the patented water management system of the Dri-Design panels stays intact.”
About 1,120 square feet of panels created an architectural display in the lobby near the elevators. The illusion that Shadow Series creates can be random or regimented depending on the intent of the designer. Completed in March 2014, this installation turned what once were wallpapered walls into eye-catching features. The 0.080-inch aluminum panels with a Weathered Zinc finish were installed by Waldinger Corp., Des Moines, Iowa, and supplied by SGH Inc., Des Moines. The Weitz Corp., Des Moines, served as the general contractor. JR Senn with Waldinger adds, “The differing panel depths really add to the panel system aesthetics.”
The overall project renovated a 50,000-square-foot casino area for $18.5 million. Architectural firm Shive-Hattery Architecture, West Des Moines, created a sense of kinetic motion within the gaming area with swooshing ceilings and sweeping columns. An enhanced gaming floor, a new high-stakes area, and improved lighting and air quality all add to the entertainment of those who want to pass their time—and maybe some money—at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino.
For more information about the Dri-Design® Wall Panel System, call 616-355-2970 or visit www.dri-design.com.
Photographs by Mark Kempf, St. Louis