Let there be light. Actually, the saying was more along the lines of, “Let there be more light.” At least that’s what The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas conveyed to Burbank, CA-based Global Trend Productions when the casino and hotel approached the company about revamping its increasingly popular Bond bar. The Cosmopolitan, with the help of its design team, had big plans for elevating the appeal of its trendy bar area, having envisioned a wondrous, hybrid space that could be infused with Sin City-styled dance performances, gaming aspects and brightly lit visual elements. The Vegas hotspot accomplished this — and more. At the end of a month long renovation process, The Cosmopolitan completely transformed the look of the Bond bar with a unique and unprecedented application of LED technology within a casino environment.
Funky, Chic
Located on the first level of the Eastside Tower of The Cosmopolitan’s hotel-and-casino complex, Bond bar was initially intended to be a daytime/nighttime space designed to feature music, live performances and art installations. LED video had already existed in the Bond bar, but The Cosmopolitan had hoped and predicted that their 2013 renovations would expand not only the area’s versatility and square footage, but also its visual impact.
“[The Cosmopolitan] created a design that had a nightclub feel within a gaming setting,” says Isaac Campos of Global Trend Productions, who supervised the development and install of the LED elements of the project. “They remodeled the Bond bar and changed the flooring and décor of the area to combine the gaming and nightclub atmosphere.”
The post-facelift Bond bar area now occupies more than 3,000 square feet and exudes what the Cosmo itself calls a “funky and chic” vibe. Global Trends Productions helped the casino achieve this visual metamorphosis with Oracle LED Systems’ LED skin — which incorporates 10mm Cree Flex custom video modules (320mm x 160mm). These panels were secured to the faces of the roulette table and 15 individual blackjack tables, radically reconfiguring the complexion of the expanse.
“Normally the entire gaming table would be made of wood with a high end finish,” says Campos. “The Cosmopolitan was after something a bit different.”
Each blackjack table measures, roughly, four feet by six feet, with steel-frame supports for the curved LED module and the Plexiglas encasing it. “These tables were designed in such a way that it helped to ensure that no one actually sees what’s holding up the LEDs,” says Campos. “It’s like having a big TV, with a curved screen, placed onto the front of every table.”
The angle of the arc (of the screens and the nearly oval-shaped tables), the height of the tables themselves and the brilliance of the LED lights help to warm the space with a visually pleasing, vibrant glow. Although it’s impossible to ignore the LED screens, the light being generated isn’t overbearing. “That’s sort of the idea,” says Campos. “The shape of the tables and look of the screens were designed in such a way as to not distract the players.”
Development and Completion
The development process spanned three months, and the installation lasted, by Campos’ recollection, just over two weeks. “There are a lot of companies that can sell off-the-shelf products, but there are only a few that can design and fabricate custom LED pieces. We work closely with our manufacturers to develop new and unique products,” says Campos.
With the help of the Cosmopolitan, Global Trend drew upon a number of resources to complete the project, having partnered with GPI Gaming, which fabricated the blackjack tables, TCS John Huxley (the roulette table) and Victory Woodworks (DJ booth/ballet bars).
“I’d say that a fair number of all the blackjack tables and roulette tables in casinos across the world have been built by the companies we worked with throughout this process,” says Campos.
After Global Trend received renderings for the physical elements of the Bond bar area, Campos reached out to Oracle LED Systems. (Global is Oracle’s distributor and North American representation.) Once prototypes were approved, work on the LED video screens began in earnest.
A major challenge Global Trend faced was the creating the actual curved shape of the LED modules and Plexiglas layering covering them. “These screens were made specifically for The Cosmopolitan,” notes Campos. “We actually had to produce the LED skin, a skin that curves, because there was little to choose from on the market. As we came to find out, we could only curve [the skin] to a certain degree with the existing material, so we ended up using a rubber-based product for the modules. This was used on both the blackjack tables and larger roulette wheel table.”
Although the detail work of the installation was taxing, relates Campos, coordinating all the various companies and securing suitable product was no small feat to accomplish within a relatively short period of time. “I had different vendors fabricating different components,” says Campos. “If the calculations were even just a little bit off, we would have to go back to the drawing table.”
After tolerances of the curved screens were checked, the angles of the curves tweaked, and supervision of the work signed off on, Global Trend and Campos brought the project through to completion. Within a few short months of planning and production, the hybrid lounge area was officially opened on Christmas Day, 2013.
“In all, it was about 15 days of installation,” says Campos.
The LED screens seem to serve a dual purpose: they lend the space a leisurely, welcoming vibe that recalls a refined nightclub setting but also infuse the bar area with the outrageous possibilities of a gaming room. “You can immerse yourself in this Bond bar environment, but never really leave the gaming aspect of the casino,” says Campos.
Campos believes the Cosmo install was unique. “We basically took the initial ideas and drawings and developed a product that would have a curved angle,” says Campos. “I believe Cosmo is the first casino in the world to have LED blackjack tables.”
“Strip Tease”
Providing visual stimuli for those patrons already inside the casino is a must, but it was equally crucial to attract the attention of passers-by walking along the famous Strip. A simple glimpse of glowing lights might be enough to motivate a person, or persons, to enter the club-like setting and investigate the scene further. It’s a wonderful marketing ploy — a “Strip” tease, of a different sort — that takes advantage of the technology’s most eye-popping qualities.
“Las Vegas Boulevard is right outside the glass windows,” says Campos. “The Cosmopolitan’s idea is that anyone walking passed can’t help but look in those windows. They’ll be attracted by the LED screens and enter the casino. The blackjack tables were designed as an attention caller.”
Other additions to the overhauled Bond bar area include a dancers’ swing, ballet bars and a vertical pole, all of which feature touches of LED. “Some other casinos have lights, or ladies dancing behind the gambling areas, but [The Cosmopolitan] wanted to take their design for this space one step further,” says Campos. “The swing is an interesting feature. A girl can swing 15 feet in the air, as well as swing left to right. Two cables secure the swing and those cables feature LED finish as well.”
Although he declined to specify the budget for this project, Campos explains that The Cosmopolitan made a substantial investment by upgrading the appearance of the Bond bar area and integrating a gaming element into the space. “I think The Cosmopolitan is pleased,” says Campos, “and I do think that the blackjack tables and all the LED work looks great. In fact, the process moved along so smoothly that The Cosmopolitan has already placed orders for additional blackjack tables. Without the vision of the Cosmopolitan team and the leadership of the project manager, this project would not have happened.
