This article is part of gb&d‘s Green Typologies series, Four of a Kind: Green casinos upending the stereotype.
Project
Location Las Vegas
Size 200,000 ft2 (renovation)
Completed 2012
Program Casino and hotel
Team
Owners Derek and Greg Stevens
Architect/Interior Designer Gensler
Lighting Design Illuminated Concepts
Green
Certification Not applicable
Materials Locally sourced stone, reclaimed wood, reused fixtures
Energy Automated climate controls, motion sensors
Lighting Extensive use of LEDs
Paying homage to Fremont Street’s heyday while sprucing up and slicking back its interiors, The D casino’s face-lift takes its inspiration from the iconic “old” Vegas with Rat Pack-themed penthouses and rich, reclaimed wood, complemented by sleek red and black decor that couches the boutique hotel’s vintage aesthetic in a modern design, but it still has sustainable touches.
Co-owning brothers Derek Stevens and Greg Stevens had been changing light bulbs over to LED before it was trendy to do so, but they always intended to more than just maintain the property when they bought it. Amid the transformation of the old strip, The D’s transformation was a natural progression for the longevity of the property. Many of the iconic spots that make up the Fremont Street Experience, the collective of Vegas’ original hotels and casinos, have revamped their entertainment and ecological presence.
The D, formerly known as the Fitzgerald Casino, used the frame of the old casino building in the renovation and then used locally sourced materials to make its debut with little environmental impact. The casino’s two-story stature is nothing new, but it is unique to The D—a point the men chose to take advantage of by using the division like a portal to the past. Cross into the second floor and you’ll be taken back to old Vegas with neon signage and coin-operated slots.
Introduced with a rebranding kickoff event in October 2012, The D’s new elements are geographically eclectic from its East Coast fare provided by American Coney Island to the hotel and casino’s new name, which references the Stevens’ hometown of Detroit. An original design by the Stevens brothers, The Longbar, a part of the casino, stretches farther than any other bar in the state and provides a comfortable spot to watch sports and play video poker for guests.
This article is part of gb&d‘s Green Typologies series, which in each issue explores a single type of building. For more of our most recent collection, Four of a Kind: Four of a Kind: Green casinos upending the stereotype, choose from the list below:
- CityCenter: Revisiting an efficient desert ecosystem
- Golden Gate Casino: Smart energy systems update an icon
- Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino: Cogeneration an answer to triune needs
