MGM hire energy-efficient architects for Massachusetts plans; Work to resume after Cincinnati incident

MGM Cincinnati

MGM CincinnatiMGM Resorts International has hired an international architectural firm known for developing “green” projects, to oversee the design of the proposed Rolling Hills Resort casino in Brimfield, Massachusetts.

According to Telegram.com, the company- named Gensler – has been at the top of the U.S. Green Building Council’s list for “the most Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design professionals”.

Does this mean MGM’s planned casino will be a more efficient twist on your average casino? Well, let’s hear it from the horses mouth. MGM’s chairman and CEO, James J. Murren, said in the report: “We don’t believe development should come at the cost of natural beauty “Gensler is a company that shares our green values and we are proud to have them joining our Brimfield team.”

Sounds all hunky-dory, however – let’s remind ourselves that several sites are the subject of competing casino proposals for just one license in Western Massachusetts. And Brimfield voters would have to approve the measure and allow for a zoning change for the casino to be built, meaning construction could be months or years away even if it does get passed.

 

In other casino news over in Cincinnati, city officials have said partial construction activity at the future Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati could resume as early as next week after an accident that saw the more a dozen workers injured.

Work halted at the site on Friday when the second-floor collapsed after concrete workers poured cement onto sheet metal that was resting on a steel beam that broke away.

Amit Ghosh, chief building officer, said the casino complex is a large site and work could resume away from the section of the incident. According to a report by Cincinnati.com, he said “the site will hopefully be mobilised later this week”, during a briefing on the investigations after the accident.

Ghosh said the project’s construction manager has promised to ensure steel beams will be permanently installed before similar pouring is conducted. We’d like to hope so, too!