Snoqualmie Casino

Location: Snoqualmie

Project team: KHS&S Contractors, wall and ceiling contractor; Bergman Walls & Associates, architect; Skanska USA, general contractor; Atlas Supply, Evergreen Building Products and GTS Interior Supply, suppliers; Dryvit Systems, G-P Gypsum, Insulfoam and Scafco Steel Stud Manufacturing Co., manufacturers

KHS&S Contractors battled snow, wind and low temperatures when it started finish work on the 171,000-square-foot Snoqualmie Casino.

During the first six months, workers had only three days of dry weather. They protected themselves and the project from 60 mile-per-hour winds and snow by shrink-wrapping the project to keep the elements out.

Although the casino’s exterior looks like red cedar, it isn’t. KHS&S developed a faux wood grain using Dryvit EIFS. The foam was cut to look like cedar siding and the finish coat was combed and stained to simulate the wood.

KHS&S also installed a wood-grain wall covering on the interior trusses over the casino floor. The ceiling is 65 feet tall with trusses that measure 35 feet high by 100 feet wide. To achieve the look of natural wood, craft workers framed the trusses, installed the drywall, then covered it with vinyl.

Also inside, KHS&S installed a faux tongue-and-metal-groove ceiling system, acoustical ceiling tile, metal stud framing, drywall, wall coverings, trim and millwork, copper-clad canopies and two water features.

The mountain lodge-style casino has 51,000 square feet of gaming space, a 1,000-seat event center, five restaurants, a cigar lounge and wine bar.

Judge’s comment: “The exterior cladding on the building is remarkable. It is a Dryvit exterior insulation finish system that has an unbelievably realistic-looking appearance of cedar siding and large wood timbers.”