Photo courtesy Metl-Span
The Ilani Casino Resort in Ridgefield, Washington, utilized metal panels, glass, wood, and stone building elements to reflect the culture of the Northwest with aesthetic cues that pay tribute to the local Cowlitz Indian Tribe.
The 37,161-m2 (400,000-sf) casino showcases a number of design elements inspired by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, according to Chuck Jones, senior-vice president with Friedmutter Group, the architectural firm that designed the project.
“The entrance area—the porch—takes its design cue from a blunt nose canoe,” Jones said, referring to the tribe’s historical means of transportation. “And the iridescent metal panels were inspired by fish scales. The majority of the other elements are featured within the casino interior.”
Design features also include light fixtures inspired by woven basket headwear and the imagery of violet camas flowers throughout the casino floor carpet.
The project’s high-performance exterior relies on more than 6968 m2 (75,000 sf) of 64-mm (2.5-in.) architectural insulated metal panels (IMPs) in champagne and medium gray colors.
“The color recommendations came from our design team,” Jones said. “The champagne worked well in tandem with the stone, wood, and other metal cladding elements.”
IMPs were specified to handle the region’s notoriously unpredictable weather systems. It also helped meet energy codes and improve overall thermal performance
“Insulated metal panels are a fairly cost-effective way to skin a building, especially in that climate,” Jones said. “It ended up being more suitable than using an [exterior insulation and finish system] EIFS.”
The metal panels acted as a single-component system eliminating the need for separate batt or board insulation, exterior sheathing, or vapor barriers for a one-and-done wall solution. The metal panels also provided a contemporary aesthetic with its flat, monolithic appearance.
What kind of glass was used for the windows? My girlfriend and I are staying here with our 3 small children and walking into the room I see this giant window and it worries me