Casino’s resort taking shape near Scottsdale

Motorists driving Loop 101 near Indian Bend Road are seeing the daily progress of a major construction project in the East Valley — the hoisting of the first steel beams of the new 15-story Casino Arizona Resort & Spa.

The beams are steadily climbing as more than 100 construction workers develop the 497-room casino resort and spa on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community adjacent to Scottsdale.

The foundation of the new casino is completed and the outer steel structure, currently at the second-story level, should be finished by late fall, said Russ Burbank, Casino Arizona senior vice president of operations.

Once the exterior is finished, twice as many workers will begin to build the interior of the resort, which will offer more than 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor conference space, including a 24,000-square-foot grand ballroom, 21 meeting rooms and full-service catering.

The new casino will also include a 240,000-square-foot gambling and entertainment venue.

The resort and casino is expected to open in 2010.

Hotel rooms, restaurants, gambling tables and entertainment will be under one roof.

“Our guests will be able to move from one venue to another without having to go outside or drive their cars to get around,” Burbank said.

One of two indoor parking facilities — that combined will have 1,000 covered spaces — is already built. Outdoor parking will be available in an area now covered by two large, but temporary, casino tents near the new project.

The tents will be removed after the new resort opens. The environment will also be taken into account, with an emphasis on recycling waste products.

“Not only will we recycle our waste products, but we also will manage the flow of our recycled materials,” Burbank said. He said specifics of the casino’s recycling program as well as unique green features of the interior of the building will be announced later as construction nears completion.

The new resort will also feature items from the surrounding Indian community, such as native stones, plants and colors, Burbank said.

Among some of the new features is a 750-seat showroom for live entertainment, concert seating for more than 2,000 people, a sports bar, piano bar and VIP lounge and a water zone that will include adult and children swimming pools and water slides.

Another key feature, Burbank said, is a 13,000-square-foot spa on the 14th floor that will have massage areas, steam and sauna rooms and a 360-degree view of the Valley.

Because the casino is privately held, Burbank said he could not reveal the estimated total construction cost of the resort. It was designed by Salt Lake City-based FFKR Architects .