Desert Diamond West Valley Resort

9431 W Northern Ave., Glendale, AZ 85305 United States

Building Area (sf): 1.2 Million

Completion: Feb. 19, 2020

Architect of Record:

HBG Design

Rick Gardner, AIA, Principal-in-Charge
Joe Baruffaldi Jr., AIA, Project Manager
Rob Jurbergs, AIA, Principal / Lead Architectural Designer
Emily Marshall, IIDA, NCIDQ, Sr. Associate / Senior Interior Designer

• Owner/Client:
• General Contractor: Hunt / Penta Joint Venture
• Electrical: NV5
• Engineering:
  PK Associates – Structural Engineering
  NV5 - M/E/P Engineering
  Wood / Patel & Associates – Civil Engineer
  
  
• Other:
  John Levy Lighting – Specialty Lighting
  Graphics / Signage – Lorenc + Yoo Design
  TBG Partners – Landscape Architect
  Fred Schmid & Associates – Foodservice
• Photography:
  Peter Malinowski / Insite Photography
  

Located in a bustling entertainment and sports district outside of Phoenix, the $400 million Desert Diamond West Valley Resort opened in early 2020. With a stunning desert backdrop, casino’s design is derived from the project teams concept called ‘The Dynamic Earth’, a unique interpretation of the desert’s abundance.

With the stunning Sonoran Desert as a backdrop, the new resort design is derived from the design team’s project concept called ‘The Dynamic Earth’, a unique interpretation of the desert’s abundance, significant to the Tohono O’odham Nation.

The Tohono O’odham Nation has a rich cultural heritage tied to the desert. The name Tohono O’odham is translated as ‘desert people’. The design team was immediately inspired by the Owner’s native land – the vast openness and diverse terrain of the Arizona landscape.

‘The Dynamic Earth’ draws inspiration from the characteristics of the desert that are uniquely experienced there – the life and breath of the desert’s unique weather; the ever-changing light and shadow of the endless sky; and the solidity and sculptural elements of the land.

Easily visible from adjacent Interstate 101, the signature arching roofline creates a beautiful contrast against the light and shadow of the desert sky. Its curved architecture integrates LED technology that produces intricate lighting patterns mirroring the ever-changing drama of the desert’s endless sky, beckoning guests within.

The natural course, stratified rock of the exterior design is derived from the earth and highlighted with vibrant hues of warm, bright copper and weathered, patinaed green. Copper is significant to the Nation, and large resources are mined on Tohono O’odham land.

The interior design team was challenged to translate the holistic ‘Dynamic Earth’ concept into unique design interpretations for the multiple entertainment and F&B venues, VIP lounge, and other spaces. The resulting design cohesion speaks to high-end branding and a well-defined guest experience.