Wind-driven Wall Panels Create Welcoming Casino Entrance

Aug. 2, 2021

At California’s Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, wind-driven, flapper-panel walls line the drive to the main entrance and greet guests with movement and illumination.

LOCATION:
Cabazon, Calif.
DESIGN TEAM:
Lifescapes Intl.
PHOTO CREDIT:
© Justin Cesler, courtesy of MediaWorks
CHALLENGE:

Owned by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the AAA Four Diamond resort and casino’s grand entry was envisioned by Lifescapes International. A landscape architectural firm specializing in destination resorts, Lifescapes’ concept included multiple freestanding columns of LED screens displaying changing visual patterns set in front of a dynamic curtain of flapper-panel walls.

SOLUTION:

Revealed in September 2020 as part of Morongo’s renovation and expansion, the new, dramatic entry elements combine color, light, sound and motion. Helping bring this sensory experience to reality for Morongo Casino, EXTECH designed, engineered and fabricated the KINETICWALL system in collaboration with MediaWorks’ installation team.

These sculptural feature walls showcase more than 4,500 metal flappers within EXTECH/Exterior Technologies, Inc.’s KINETICWALL façade system. “Our KINETICWALL system responds to wind currents, creating the look of rolling waves across the flapper-panel wall system,” says Jim Leslie, EXTECH’s general manager. Each wall spans approximately 60 ft., ranges up to 15-ft. high and curves in two directions. Viewed from the side, the walls undulate from concave to convex, and across the top the heights rise and dip to accentuate the waveform.

Within the wall’s structural framework, more than 4,500 clear anodized, 6-in. × 6-in., aluminum flappers are horizontally suspended on a pin-mount system. EXTECH’s KINETICWALL Pin-Mount suspension system allows the flapper elements to seemingly float in front of the support rungs and side rails as a veil. Finished in black anodize, the framework fades into the background to emphasize the dynamic flappers and their movement.

The Pin-Mount system also helps save time and labor during the KINETICWALL system’s long lifespan. If repair or maintenance operations are necessary, the flappers can be removed and replaced without any specialized tools. After its useful life on the at Morongo Casino, the metal is 100% recyclable.

To ensure the specified longevity, appearance and performance, EXTECH engineered and fabricated the KINETICWALL wall system in its Pittsburgh factory. The flappers were mounted on their horizontal rungs and then preassembled into 40 sections for convenient shipping and easy installation.

null

Sponsored Recommendations

Eldorado Stone Before & Afters

Check out some of Eldorado's recent projects. This will show you the before and after results of how Eldorado could add value to your next architectural endeavor.

Eldorado Stone Inspiration Galleries

For over 50 years, Eldorado Stone has demonstrated an undeniable passion for creating authentic products that elevate not only quality and design but also attainability.

About Eldorado Stone

Today, Eldorado is recognized as a leader in quality and innovation in the U.S. and around the world. Eldorado Stone, LLC is headquartered in Oceanside, CA, and currently operates...

Stone 101 Guide

Renovating or building your home can be both exciting and daunting as you go through the process of choosing an optimal layout, the best materials, and pleasing colors and finishes...