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Ameristar Conference Center
Walton Construction Completes $14 Million State-of-the-Art Conference and Meeting Center for Ameristar Casino St. Charles
ST. LOUIS, MO – Walton Construction has completed a new 65,000-square-foot conference and meeting center for
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| Ameristar Conference Center |
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| Business Center |
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| Conference Center with table settings |
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| Meeting Room |
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| Large Meeting Room |
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Ameristar Casino St. Charles. A traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the $14 million conference center’s completion was held on Sept. 18, and Walton will now focus its efforts on constructing the casino’s new hotel and parking garage.
The state-of-art conference center is part of Ameristar’s $240 million expansion, which includes a 400-room all-suite hotel and a new 2,350-space parking garage. All improvements are expected to be open in late 2007.
The new conference and meeting center includes two ballrooms, five meeting rooms and an executive boardroom that provides Ameristar guests with 19,200 square feet of meeting space. High-end finishes, rich wood panels, exclusively-designed woven carpet and custom lighting define the contemporary look of the center. A state-of-the-art business center and fully-equipped banquet kitchens complete the facility, which is housed in the second level of Ameristar’s existing $360 million casino entertainment facility.
“A challenge on the project was completing the conference center in the existing interior space of the fully-functional facility with no disruption to guests,” said Dan Frisbee, Walton’s senior vice-president. “We also had to overcome difficult logistics issues and ensure that the operating casino was not effected by dust or noise. The conference center turned out beautifully and we are now focusing our efforts on completing a hotel and parking garage that Ameristar can be equally as proud of.”
Ameristar Chairman and CEO Craig H. Neilsen said the new conference center provides a very distinctive amenity for groups that are interested in meeting space set within a premium entertainment facility.
“The conference center is an ideal destination for groups to conduct meetings and events and also take advantage of the outstanding gaming, dining and entertainment that we offer at Ameristar St. Charles,” Neilsen said. “The completion of our much-anticipated all-suite hotel by the end of 2007 will create an all-inclusive package for guests who visit our property. It will be a conference and meeting experience unlike any other in the St. Louis region.”
Walton worked with high-end materials including polished travertine and imported marble flooring and maple- and walnut-stained wall panels. The entrance to the 10,000-square-foot Discovery Ballroom and a pre-function event area is highlighted by an onyx tile wall. Featuring a rare type of onyx imported from China, the unique 2’ x 2’ tiles use LED lighting to create a warm amber glow. Opposite the onyx wall is a captivating glass tile wall that features handcrafted tiles made in New Mexico, especially designed for Ameristar. Twelve-foot custom wood doors provide a grand entrance to the ballroom.
The project included a state-of-the-art built-in audio-visual system, and special sound attenuation fabric ceilings and walls to provide optimum acoustic capabilities for multiple events occurring simultaneously. The high-end acoustic material also was installed on the divider walls, which separate the Discovery Ballroom into four separate rooms.
Automated controls include touch screens for lighting, sound and room temperature, drop-down projection screens and wireless Internet services.
The interior was designed by Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo, the world’s number one hotel, leisure and entertainment design firm. The Kansas City office of Berger Devine Yaeger, Inc. was the project architect.
Walton Construction Co. of St. Louis is a leader in pre-construction, general contracting, design-build and construction management services. Walton serves national and local casino, healthcare, retail, distribution centers and commercial clients. Walton Construction is ranked 33rd among the top 50 domestic general building contractors in the United States by Engineering News Record and third in St. Louis by the St. Louis Business Journal list of general contractors. For more information, contact Ryan Molen at 636-594-2220 or visit www.waltonbuilt.com.
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Media Contact: Mary Schanuel
Synergy Group • 7915 Big Bend Blvd. • St. Louis, MO 63119
314.961.9772 • 314.961.9782 (fax)
www.synergy-pr.com
Link to other releases about the Ameristar Casino and Hotel Expansion Project
5/14/06: Ameristar Casino St. Charles Selects Walton Construction St. Louis for $240 Million Expansion Project |
