ESa designs Silver Slipper Casino in Bay St. Louis

Construction started in January on the Mississippi Gulf Coast's Silver Slipper Casino, designed by architectural firm Earl Swensson Associates (ESa) of Nashville, Tenn.

The $50 million casino development, located on a 30-acre site, is expected to be open in a year. Located near Bay St. Louis, Miss., the casino will have a four-level riverboat for gambling and an attached 36,000-sq.-ft. land structure for dining, which will include a buffet, a bar and entertainment area and a small giftshop.

ESa is redesigning the existing riverboat and designing from the ground up the new land-based structure.

"We're enjoying the opportunity of creating a new venue in a new location for the namesake of the historic Silver Slipper, one of the original casinos built on the Strip in Las Vegas," said Ron Lustig, ESa principal design architect.

Designed in a traditional architectural style, the pavilion's exterior will be constructed in Eldorado manufactured stone and EIFS (exterior insulated finish system).

Continuing the traditional style, the interior pavilion will have fluted wood columns. Waterjet-cut Silver Slipper logos will be incorporated into the porcelain ceramic tile floor.

The casual bar is designed with a small stage for three-piece bands and strategically placed television screens for sports viewing. Leading off the bar is an outdoor patio overlooking a beautiful white sand beach.

A players' club will be near the boat's entrance on the main level. Memorabilia of the original Silver Slipper and other early Las Vegas casinos will be displayed on either side of the ramp leading to the boat.

Paul R. Alanis, chairman of Silver Slipper Gaming, said the Silver Slipper will focus on drive-in markets from southern Mississippi and southeast Louisiana. Alanis is a former top executive with Horseshoe Gaming and Pinnacle Entertainment.

ESa, established in 1961, provides architectural, interior design, master planning and space planning design services for clients throughout the United States and abroad.