OWNER: Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, Uncasville, Conn.
DEVELOPER: Trading Cove Associates, Waterford, Conn.
THEMING DESIGN ARCHITECT: Rockwell Group Architecture Planning and Design, NYC
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: DeSimone Consulting Engineers, NYC
WATER FEATURES DESIGN CONSULTANT: Cloward and Associates, Provo, Utah
THEMING CONTRACTOR (Wombi Rock): George M. Raymond Co., Orange, Calif.
TURTLE SHELL CONTRACTOR: Alexander Manufacturing Inc., Portland, Ore.
CONSTRUCTION MANAGER: Perini Corp., Framingham, Mass.

One of the most important elements that attract customers to a casino is the venue's theme. For the $50 million second phase of the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn., its Wombi Rock, Turtle Shell and Taughannick Falls stand out as customer attractions.

Wombi Rock is a 60-ft.-high structure with a dance floor on its second level and a VIP bar on its second floor mezzanine that overlooks the casino. To build this element, a universal support was created so two 40-ft.-high arches between towering peaks that raced up to the planetarium dome above evolve from a three-dimensional AutoCAD file to reality.

Wombi Rock was envisioned as a glowing mountain that would appear as natural as possible. It utilizes three types of onyx to achieve this. One of the challenges encountered during the construction of Wombi Rock was that the lights behind its panels reached 120-degrees Fahrenheit, the PVB inner layer of the composite panel would weaken and adversely affect the structural integrity of the composite panel. The solution to this problem was to build in some slots at some seams where the panels come together to allow the air to circulate naturally.

While supporting the panels was one challenge, assembling them was another. To solve this problem, a typical steel angle frame needed to be designed to support each individual panel. Three dimensional angle frames were prefabricated in sections and then married into the corresponding three-dimensional angle frame supported by the universal struts and then attached with machine screws through pre-drilled holes.

The Turtle Shell is a three-dimensional tube frame that outlines the shape of a turtle. Its footprint is 75-ft. by 60-ft. It is 30-ft. high. The challenge posed with constructing this themed element was that the architect dimensioned it in two dimensions only - plan and elevation. But the Turtle Shell is a complex three-dimensional shape that has structural tubes and pipes bending about both of its axes. To complicate construction further inlaid glass panels filled in between the steel framing. The glass is a planar element that was supposed to fit in the three-dimensional element. To resolve these problems, a software program was used to illustrate the areas of conflict between the glass configuration and geometry with the structural steel.

Taughnnick Falls consists of two series of 45-ft.-high waterfalls situated opposite each other in the casino's retail corridor facing the hotel lobby entrance. Installation of two sets of staircases and escalators from the hotel lobby to the retail corridor had to b e coordinated with the falls too.

The challenge in constructing Taughannick Falls was taking a three-dimensional AutoCAD design and turn it into reality.

Coordinating the location of the structural elements behind the themed rockwork of the falls, while designing it to withstand the water pressure, was another project challenge. The solution was using the three-dimensional design as a tool to locate 33 pools, support walls and penetrations for plumbing. The unique structural feature of the falls is that structure transfers at each pool elevation. To resolve this, the walls of the falls were offset from the final face of the rockwork to allow the variable contouring to take place during construction. In addition, access to the valves was required for maintenance. The solution was a series of catwalks behind the falls and within a cavity area above the retail space to provide access.

In its decision to recognize this project, the jury praised the project team and noted that they offered "creative use of interior and structural solutions to achieve their goals."