 The Morongo Band of Mission Indians is a pioneer in Indian gaming, their dream of self-reliance through economic development continues with the design and construction of their new $250 million casino resort hotel in Cabazon, California. The Morongo Band of Mission Indians is a pioneer in Indian gaming,
using it as a means of self-reliance through economic development
as early as 1983. Their dream of realizing this continues with
the design and construction of their new $250 million casino resort
hotel in Cabazon, California, just east of Palm Springs. The tribe’s
goal is to create a world-class luxury resort that would offer
a full range of entertainment options that visitors could enjoy.
This first class casino and resort is slated to generate 4,000
new jobs and $2.8 billion to the economy within five years.
Syska Hennessy Group provided services to design an 8 mW cogeneration
plant to serve the casino and hotel. The plant provides power to
the tribe’s 584,000 sq ft facility that includes a 28-story
hotel with a roof-top lounge, casino, spa and restaurants, and
a 1,700-car parking garage. As a result, the casino will significantly
reduce their power consumption from the local utility that serves
the area to nearly zero.
The cogeneration plant is designed for eight engine-driven generators;
four will operate in cogeneration mode burning natural gas, and
four will be diesel backup units. The heat recovered will be used
to heat the casino or generate chilled water using a 1,100-ton
absorption chiller. In addition, there will be two 1,250-ton electric
chillers, two 8,000 mbh hot water boilers, cooling towers and various
ancillary equipment.
The high voltage work includes the paralleling switchgear at 12
kV. The four cogeneration generators also operate at 12 kV. The
three backup generators operate at 480V, but are individually stepped
up to 12 kV. Substations are provided transform the power from
12kV to supply the casino power at 480 V.
A fast-track project, construction was complete within 12 weeks
after the design and permitting. The plant meets the strict air
quality requirements for the special climate-type of the desert.
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