The $400-million Desert Diamond West Valley Casino, undertaken by the Native American Tohono O’odham Nation, features an arching roofline to beckon drivers to the 1.2-million-sq-ft complex, one of the largest facilities of its kind in Arizona. In addition to being a resort, the development includes 75,000 sq ft of casino space as well as entertainment venues.

The project team established an integrated design process to develop performance goals for site design, envelope requirements, materials, energy use, water use and overall sustainability. Exteriors include natural-coursed, stratified rock taken from the earth and highlighted with hues of copper. The arching roofline, easily visible from an adjacent interstate highway, incorporates LED lighting intended to mimic the changing desert sky.

Desert Diamond West Valley Casino is only the second casino in the U.S. to earn Green Globes certification, a designation based on site location, planning, design and sustainable materials selection, among other considerations. Construction minimized site disturbance, including impacts on natural species and habitats. The team also engaged in extensive soil evaluations and selected drought-tolerant plants native to the area. Water reclamation and stormwater control also figured into the project. Sustainable materials include carpeting fabricated from recycled fabric.

The project team met a 24-month schedule despite a two-month delay due to geotechnical issues. The project created thousands of construction jobs and, upon completion, more than 3,000 permanent jobs.

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