TEMECULA, Calif. -- (April 19, 2017) – Another milestone in the construction of the $285 million Pechanga Resort & Casino expansion was reached today. Dozens of construction members, elected officials, dignitaries, Pechanga Tribal members and Pechanga Team Members gathered to watch the topping out of the Tribe’s massive addition that will make their resort/casino the largest on the West Coast.
This topping out included crews 14 stories up pouring the last 710 tons of concrete into the upper framing of the new hotel tower that will house 568 rooms and suites. A giant, concrete-filled bucket the size of a mid-size car was hoisted via crane to the top of the south hotel wing and its contents poured into the structure. A small, sacred oak tree also hitched a ride onto the top of building with the bucket, and was placed atop the tower as a symbol of strength and perseverance. The ceremonial tree will be planted on the resort grounds at the expansion’s completion.
“Today, we celebrate the topping out of this new tower, which will give us 568 brand new AAA Four-Diamond rooms. When our resort expansion is done in December, guests will be able to enjoy 13 restaurants, 1,100 rooms and suites, a 4 ½ -acre pool complex, a luxury spa, tons of event space, a beautiful golf course, and a casino floor that’s bigger and better than any on the west coast,” said Edith Atwood, President of the Pechanga Development Corporation. “Countless people, as well as more than 2,500 construction trades workers, have labored tirelessly to keep construction on schedule.”
The project put more than 2,500 regional construction tradesmen and women to work for the two-year build. Materials used in construction have been largely sourced from Southern California. Builders have poured 81,000 tons of concrete to erect the Pechanga resort expansion’s new hotel wing. More than 2,174 tons of reinforcing steel went into the structure, The base of the intersecting hotel towers is 70-feet wide and 13-feet deep with a large tunnel system allowing the more than 4,500 Pechanga Team Members to move easily through the property for the most efficient guest service. The hotel structure ascends 13 stories on the south and nine stories on the north.
“Tutor Perini is very proud of our continuing role in the creation of one of the most premier destination resorts in the country,” said Travis Burton, Executive Vice President of Tutor Perini Corporation.
When the entire expansion project is complete in December 2017, Pechanga Resort & Casino will offer a full-scale destination experience to visitors coming from California and beyond. It is also expected to bring on another 750 permanent employees.
Snapshot of Pechanga When Expansion is Complete:
• Casino Square Footage: 200,000
• Event/Meeting/Convention square footage: 100,000 (indoor) 174,500 (outdoor)
• Number of Hotel Rooms: 1,090
• Number of Restaurants: 13
• Number of Pools & Spas: 13
• Number of Employees: 4,560
• Other Amenities: 2-level luxury Spa, Fitness Center, Championship 18-hole Golf Course, Concert Theater, Nightlife, Green roof
The building was designed by Delawie architects, the original designers of Pechanga Resort & Casino when it was built in 2002. Lifescapes International is building the four-acre pool complex. Tutor Perini was selected as the expansion builder. CLEO Design is the lead for interior aesthetics.
About Pechanga Resort & Casino
Pechanga Resort & Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/casino experience anywhere in the United States. Voted the Number One casino in America by the readers of USA TODAY and rated a Four Diamond property by AAA since 2002, Pechanga Resort & Casino provides an unparalleled getaway. Offering more than 3,000 of the hottest slots, table games, world-class entertainment, 517 hotel rooms, dining, spa and championship golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort & Casino features a destination that meets and exceeds the needs of its guests and the community. Pechanga Resort & Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. For more information, call toll free 1-888-PECHANGA or visit www.Pechanga.com