Gila River Resorts & Casino – Santan Mountain
The Challenge
In designing the new Santan Mountain casino in Chandler, Arizona, Gila River Resorts & Casinos decided to depart from the traditional aesthetics of casinos—dark and windowless—to create a light, airy space. The project team wanted to highlight the beautiful views of the nearby mountains and to offer guests a comfortable space filled with sunlight, while minimizing heat and glare on light-sensitive screens. They needed a glazing solution that would do all those things for their state-of-the-art casino, focusing on bright spaces and modern amenities to maximize the guest experience.
The Solution
Gila River worked with its development partner, Tynan Group, and architect, Steelman Partners, to select SageGlass smart windows for the floor-to-ceiling glass in the front façade of the Santan Mountain Casino. Smart windows tint automatically in response to the sun, maximizing light and outdoor views while reducing uncomfortable heat and glare. The windows are clear at night or during low levels of sunlight, allowing outside passersby to see inside the vibrant space.
Blake Katsnelson, general manager of Santan Mountain Casino, says, “The decision to throw out the rulebook of traditional casinos by introducing windows was a dream come true. Partnering with SageGlass allowed us to bring this vision to life in an efficient and aesthetically pleasing way.”
Nearly 16,000 square feet of SageGlass dynamic windows were installed throughout the casino, ensuring guests enjoy optimal visibility, natural light, and comfortable temperatures no matter the weather or the time of day.
The Benefits
In addition to reducing energy costs and carbon footprint, dynamic glass also makes good business sense for casinos and others in the gaming and hospitality industries. Studies show that guests spend more time and more money in spaces with natural light and views of the outdoors. Santan Mountain’s dynamic windows allow for that while eliminating the need for traditional blinds or shades, which can obstruct views and be hard to clean and maintain. Katsnelson adds, “The positive feedback from our guests, who appreciate the unique and bright atmosphere, is truly gratifying!”