Harrah's Tunica

THE PROJECT

Gephart provided Design/Build and Design/Assist services for the construction of the world's largest dockside casino, Harrah's Tunica, in Robinsonville, Mississippi. The project’s initial phase included seven restaurants, two live entertainment lounges, a porte-cochere, and receiving building/central plants.

OUR PLANNING

We recruited, interviewed, and hired the local supervisory team early to develop camaraderie through the preconstruction, layout, coordination, and planning stages. This preparation and team-building ensured that everyone knew the plan and could hit the ground running when construction began.

OUR WORK

The immensely large project presented several unique logistical challenges. We had 75 electrical workers on the job within the first month and more than 200 workers at the peak just a few months later, which required running two buses in a loop to bring all of our workers into and out of the site for each shift.

In addition, the casino was being built on three river barges in the backwaters of the Mississippi River which required a different set of methods and materials from standard commercial construction and presented the challenge of establishing “level.” In addition to contending with the installation of more than 4,000 light fixtures, 3,000 slot machines, four 1760 KW generators, eight chilled water/cooling tower assemblies, and two 35 KV primary high voltage services, we also overcame a big last minute challenge. One day before opening, the lighting designer changed the gaming floor lighting design. Our crews literally worked around the clock, removing or relocating each lighting fixture on the gaming floor to complete the adjustments in time for the opening.

SUCCESS

After only nine months, we completed the initial construction phase using fast-track, design-assist construction, and two shifts of six ten-hour days per week. Gephart’s key leaders, along with contractors, architects, and engineers, spent many evenings meeting over dinner to discuss the project’s progress and challenges, and drafting solutions on napkins to implement in construction. We lived the job, worked closely together, and formed bonds that have resulted in lasting friendships and business partnerships.

SERVICES PERFORMED

• Cabling
• Computer/Telephone Raceway Systems
• Electrical Distribution System
• Emergency Systems, Power, & Generator
• Fiber Optic Surveillance Camera & Sound Systems
• High Voltage & High Voltage Distribution
• HVAC Control
• Lighting & Dimming Systems
• Lightning Protection System
• Low-Voltage & Special Systems
• Security, Surveillance, & CATV