Over the last year, in the midst of a global pandemic, TBE Architects was able to complete and open a number of beautiful new projects. Among them was the Family FunPlex expansion at Wildhorse Resort & Casino in Pendleton, Oregon, owned by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. That project was followed by the brand-new We-Ko-Pa Casino, near Phoenix, Arizona, developed for the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.
TBE’s most recent project is the new Quil Ceda Creek Casino, located in Tulalip, Washington, which marked its grand opening in February 2021. This completely new casino sits on 15 acres, adjacent to the former Quil Ceda Creek Casino. It includes a 126,000-square-foot casino with a six-level parking structure designed to accommodate 1,000 vehicles. There is room to grow, as a new hotel tower is planned as part of a future phase.
This property more than doubles the size of the casino it replaced, and offers guests many new amenities. They include a live entertainment venue called The Stage, along with more F&B variety, including the Keg Bar, the Landing and the Kitchen.
The Landing is a full-service dining venue that features classic favorites. Its setting pays tribute to the heritage of the Tulalip Tribes and their connection to the water, utilizing decorative canoe paddles and design elements that are reminiscent of water in motion.
But what really sets this casino property apart is The Kitchen, a new food-hall dining experience. The Kitchen features a variety of fresh items that are made-to-order in a “green kitchen,” utilizing windspeed and induction-cooking technologies.
The food-hall concept allows guests to order from a variety of food stations. Selections are recorded on a single card as they go, and guests pay a single bill for all orders when they are finished, as opposed to the “food court” model, in which patrons pay at each and every station or restaurant they visit.
Since 1971, TBE Architects has specialized in architectural and interior design for the hotel, casino and resort industries. Its clients include national brands such as Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs and Marriott, along with 116 Native American tribes and First Nations.
Client: Tulalip Tribes of Washington
Architect: TBE Architects (Thalden Boyd Emery)
Contractor: Andersen Construction
Owners’ Representative: Eric Guion & Associates, LLC
Opened: February 2021
