Location: St. Louis, MO
Completed: 2010
Client: Pinnacle Entertainment
Size: 90,000 SF
Guarantee Electrical’s innovative constructability model helped win the 17-month new construction contract for Pinnacle Entertainment’s $351 million, 90,000-square-foot casino in south St. Louis County. Guarantee installed all power, lighting, security and data systems for River City Casino, a full-service casino entertainment venue located near the confluence of the Mississippi River and the River Des Peres that offers patrons spectacular views. The gaming establishment features more than 2,000 slot machines, 50 gaming tables, five restaurants and a night club.
“We knew from the get-go that our crews would need to accommodate scheduling deviations, engineering challenges and quick-turn material procurement needs to keep the project moving forward on a fast track,” says Tom Kohlberg, Guarantee senior project manager. “Guarantee was built on tackling tough projects. Our crews were great at thinking on their feet and we delivered on budget and ahead of schedule.”
To achieve those results, Guarantee outfitted its on-site trailer with Building Information Modeling (BIM) and 3D-CAD technology to accommodate change orders within minutes of request. Guarantee engineers also pursued alternative installation methods for the secondary power distribution system. installing underground feeders and in-floor branch conduits rather than overhead raceways – saving time, coordination issues and money while reducing loads placed on building trusses.
Pinnacle also challenged Guarantee to conceal from view all cold cathode lighting transformers and ballasts without adding access panels to high-end ceiling finishes. Similar to neon, cold cathode lighting requires numerous transformers, producing up to 12,000 volts of power. Guarantee was able to hide the access panels behind interior design elements, such as curtains.
At peak, more than 120 electricians worked on site, recording more than 100,000 man-hours with zero lost-time injuries. W.G. Yates & Sons Construction and Paric Corp. were the general contractors.