You might know the architectural firm for the new Caesars Casino Resort Danville, Marnell Companies, due to a truly famous project in its portfolio.
That would be the famed Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
Caesars Entertainment officials recently announced that Marnell Companies, the architect behind the famed Sin City property, will also design its upcoming casino project in Danville. The $400 million Danville casino in the south-Virginia city is slated for a 2023 opening.
Officials recently announced Caesars Entertainment’s selection of Marnell.
Marnell companies and its casino experience
The Nevada-based Marnell Companies appears to be a solid choice for the Danville casino project.
Voters approved the Danville casino by an overwhelming margin, in part because city leaders promised it would be an aesthetically beautiful addition to the Dan River riverfront in Danville.
Although its international experience is diverse, Marnell’s casino projects undoubtedly stand out. The Bellagio, which is located in the middle of the Las Vegas strip, draws thousands of nightly visitors for its famed fountain show. The Bellagio water world and the hotel’s classic facade are instantly recognizable, especially to Ocean’s 11 fans.
However, in addition to Bellagio, Marnell Architecture designed all or sections of the following gaming properties, among others:
- Avi Resort & Casino (Laughlin, NV)
- Borgata (Atlantic City, NJ)
- Lumiere Place (St. Louis, MO)
- Osage Casino-Ponca City (OK)
- Forum Shops at Caesars Palace (Las Vegas, NV)
- Texas Station (North Las Vegas, NV)
- Wynn Las Vegas (NV)
That experience obviously paid dividends for the company. As Caesars Entertainment wrote in an announcement:
“We have selected Marnell Architecture to complete the design and architecture for Caesars Virginia. They were chosen based off their experience and impressive body of work in casino design.”
What to expect from the Danville casino
The groundbreaking for Caesars Casino Resort Danville takes place in the fall. Officials expect the resort to open in the second half of 2023.
And sure, the Danville casino won’t have Bellagio’s famed fountains or its luxury Italian theme. But it will tap into the city’s rich riverfront history as a textile producer and transportation hub.
The Danville casino, which will be built on the vacant and deteriorating Dan River Mills complex, will incorporate themes and aesthetics from the once-thriving mill. Those features could include industrial elements such as smokestacks, steel, exposed red bricks, and glass.
In other words, the property should have a decidedly retro feel to it.
It’ll also feature:
- 300-room, four-star hotel
- 35,000-square-foot conference and meeting center
- 2,500-seat live entertainment venue
- Casino, poker room, and sportsbook
- Multiple restaurants, bars, and retail shops
- State-of-the-art spa
- Pool
- Fitness center
The project could create 1,300 full-time jobs and 900 temporary construction jobs. At maturity, it could also generate more than $20 million annually in tax revenue for Danville.