MULTIPLE
PLANT SERVICES, INC. 795 E. Debra Lane - Anaheim, CA 92805 - (714) 635-4070 PAINTING/COATING/BLASTING· MAINTENANCE· PETRO CHEMICAL· TANKS· FOOD PLANTS· INDUSTRIAL· OFFICES· HOTELS
After decades of being a tiny Interstate 10 roadside dive, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians began taking advantage of California’s relaxed gaming laws and constructed a new casino, looking much like a typical tilt-up warehouse with a large parking lot.
Revenues from this modest upgrade were enormous. Coupled with relatively unbridled restraint, Indian Nations up and down the state became wealthy in gaming profits. The Morongo Tribe set out to build perhaps the most architecturally pleasing Indian Gaming venue in the Southern California region: Casino Morongo.
The distinctive “Mohawk” Hotel and Tower is one example of Indian self reliance at its best.
The new $250 million Casino Hotel and Spa is a world-class destination casino resort hotel on the Morongo Indian Reservation. Designed by internationally-renown architect Jon Jerde, whose firm, The Jerde Partnership, designed Las Vegas landmarks like the Bellagio, Treasure Island and the Palms Casino Resort, the project was built by Perini Builders, one of the country's largest construction companies specializing in hotels. It is one of the largest recreational gaming destinations on the West Coast.
According to a prominent regional economist, the project will generate more than $2.8 billion in new jobs and economic benefits to the Inland Empire economy.
When trades people could not keep up with ambitious opening deadlines, KHS&S, a sub to Perini Builders, called on Erik Engebretson of Multiple Plant Services to come to the rescue.
Whereas typical hotel structures are not that difficult to paint, the Mohawk presented challenges that could not be overlooked. Primarily the most urgent challenge was an extremely tight time line. The entire 23 floor structure must be painted within approximately one week. The site of the structure was another problem.
The Cabazon area is renowned for its high winds. Indeed not many miles east lie one of the country’s largest “wind farms” where massive turbines sit atop giant pillars relentlessly driven by the desert winds in order to generate electricity.
These same winds created a vortex effect about the building. Special equipment was necessary to hug the building, and to prevent any fugitive paint droplets from contaminating the adjacent parking lots and also the heavily traveled Interstate 10 passing just in front of the Hotel.
Erik brought the project in on time and on budget. The Morongo Band of Mission Indians was grateful to all of the trades who worked so hard to allow them to open on time for the Holiday Season.
