ROHNERT PARK, CALIFORNIA— Graton Resort & Casino unveiled its new five-story parking garage on Monday.
The garage is the first completed project in a multi-year expansion that began last summer. It adds 1,600 parking spaces and 32 electric vehicle charging stations to the resort. The digital signage system uses next-generation wayfinding to display parking availability for each floor in real time.
The new construction features several sustainable elements, such as a 1-megawatt photovoltaic solar array that generates electricity for the building. In a press release, the casino said other eco-friendly features include LED lighting, water-saving plants and landscaping, and low-VOC (volatile organic compound) concrete, paints and adhesives.
The well-lit, open and airy garage features raised floor lights and extra-wide parking spaces with double lines to prevent dents and scratches.
Coinciding with the opening of the garage, the casino’s valet service now also has emission-free, 100 percent electric shuttles to transport guests to and from the facility.
Expansion update
The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, a federally recognized Native American tribe comprised of Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo Indians, own and operate the casino and resort, which opened in November 2013 on tribal land in the town of Rohnert Park in Sonoma County.
The next phase of the tribe’s $1 billion casino expansion includes an expansion east of the current facility with a new poker room, high-limit gaming area, sports bar and rooftop restaurant.
The project was expected to employ 2,000 people in temporary construction jobs and 600 people as new team members at the Graton Resort & Casino.
The project architects are Walter P. Moore & Associates of San Diego and Bergman Walls & Associates of Henderson, Nevada. The project developer is ECL Development LLC of Las Vegas and the general contractor is SMC Contracting, Inc. of Sparks, Nevada.
