Creating a Tropical Oasis in the Heart of Winnipeg

Known for it’s extremely cold Canadian winters, one of the last things that comes to our mind when we think of Winnipeg, Manitoba, is a tropical oasis. But that’s exactly what the architects at Number TEN Architectural Group wanted to create when renovating Winnipeg’s Club Regent Casino.

Built in 1992, the original design featured a tropical theme, complete with a rock wall made to look like a waterfall and large faux palm trees to greet visitors at the front entrance. In 2016, the casino’s decor was due for an update and that’s where the team of architects at Number TEN came in. The team decided to keep the tropical theme, but they wanted to bring it into the 21^st century.

To update the interior space, the rock walls were traded for smooth, natural wood surfaces. A modern, abstract grass pattern was incorporated throughout the space, on glass partitions, wallpaper and flooring to tie the theme together. To maximize design flow, the “modern tropical” aesthetic was carried to the building’s exterior, which underwent a complete transformation.

One of the main alterations to the exterior was the addition of a large canopy, constructed at the casino’s main entrance along Regent Avenue. Working together with the creative designers at Mackay Wong Interior Design, Number TEN wanted to “create an entryway that would act as a beacon at night, welcoming casino patrons into the space” says Architect Michael Farion, a member of the Number TEN project team. The completed canopy design is hard to ignore, lined with flashy neon lights and anchored by four large illuminated glass columns.

For the largest glass column, standing at 40 feet tall, the design team wanted to add a new decorative element. Working together with Goldray Glass, the team selected a “Seagrass” pattern that was digitally printed onto the glass surface to match the tropical theme. “The decorative glass adds another level of detail and sophistication to the project” says Farion. The glass panels were laminated to add durability and strength, making the glass ideal for use in an exterior application.

Once complete, the new Club Regent Casino is the epitome of “modern tropical” and offers the ultimate escape for visitors, with exceptional dining options, live entertainment and a first-class gaming experience. We were thrilled to work alongside the talented team of architects and designers at Number TEN Architectural Group and Mackay Wong Interior Design, as well as the glazing contractors at Border Glass & Aluminum that made this installation possible.

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