A Las Vegas-based architectural firm that has worked on some of the largest casinos in the world has been hired to design the proposed Mashpee Wampanoag casino in Taunton.
Steelman Partners LLP, which designed the $4 billion Resorts World Las Vegas for Genting Group, was hired by the tribe's gaming authority. Genting is the parent company of Malaysian investors loaning money to the tribe for the Taunton project.
Tribe leaders confirmed the hiring of Steelman, but declined a request for an interview and instead issued a statement.
"The tribe recently engaged Steelman Partners of Las Vegas, a firm that is known for its outstanding track record in the design of destination resorts. We have been impressed with their interior design concepts, and have asked for their recommendations in creating a 'wow factor' for Project First Light," Mashpee Wampanoag Chairman Cedric Cromwell said. "With the environmental review process winding down, it is important that we start the next phase of design and examine ways to create a first-class environment for those who will be visiting our facilities in Taunton."
One of the projects Steelman has on its resume is the MGM tower at Foxwoods in Connecticut. The company also has designed casinos in Asia, including the Sands Macau. Paul Steelman, the company's principal, is described by Global Gaming Business Magazine as being "responsible for
many of the most striking designs in the casino business."
Tribe sources now put the tribe's debt at $90 million after borrowing $8.6 million, in part, to hire Steelman. The tribe lopped $1.6 million off the top of that loan to pay interest on its debt to Genting, sources said.
The architects will be paid $900,000 per month and a total of $14.5 million, according to the sources.
The tribe paid JCJ Architects, which has a Boston office, in excess of $13 million for designs that were presented to Taunton city councilors in May 2013 and are now being scrapped.
At the time, a Genting executive told Taunton city councilors the curved designs of the JCJ design added a "wow factor" to the project.
"We're paying again for new designs and going deeper into debt," one of the tribe sources said.
"Why?"
This would be the third iteration of the Mashpee Wampanoag casino proposal in Taunton, once the plans are complete.
"I'm aware they've switched," Taunton Mayor Thomas Hoye Jr. said Friday. "(Steelman's) reputation in the field is superior."
Hoye said he doesn't expect the size of the project, which is slated to be built in phases with two hotels and a water park, will change, but the "curb appeal" will improve with a Steelman design.
As soon as designs are complete, Hoye said he expects the tribe to go before the City Council to review them.
Officials for JCJ did not return repeated calls seeking comment. The firm still lists the Mashpee Wampanoag's Project First Light as one of its projects on its website.
Kama Star, a spokesman for Steelman, said the firm's principal was traveling and unavailable for comment.
The city and the tribe have an agreement for the tribe to pay at least $8 million per year plus more for infrastructure to help with city services once a casino is up and running. It's been two years since a citywide vote was held that overwhelmingly approved the casino deal.
Progress has been slow on the tribe's application with the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs to have the land taken into trust for the casino. The Final Environmental Impact Statement is under review, but it's unclear when that will be acted upon.
Meanwhile, the tribe faces potential competition in Southeastern Massachusetts from commercial bidders, though that process hasn't been much quicker. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission recently extended a key application deadline until Dec. 1. The commission has opened the region to additional bidders and hopes to issue a license by August 2015.
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