Connecticut Retail/Hospitality

The Earth Hotel: Mohegan Sun Expands its Vision

by Anastasia Barnes

Earth Hotel Entry  ©KPF Associates

Earth Hotel Entry
©KPF Associates

Uncasville, CT – There’s a new kid on the block that is getting a lot of buzz in Uncasville.  It’s Mohegan Sun’s brand new boutique hotel that sits adjacent to the casino’s Sky Hotel on the reservation.  Rightfully named The Earth Hotel, the building represents one of Mohegan Tribe’s principal visions “respecting Mother Earth, the Elders, and all that comes from Mundo” (the world).

 

“The Earth Hotel is closely related to the Sky Hotel and is inspired by crystal and rock formations that are important to the culture and heritage of the tribe”, said Lloyd Sigal, principal at KPF Associates in New York City.  “The crystalline massing, angled geometry and glass facades exemplify these ideas”.

 

Overall View of Earth Hotel from Approach ©KPF Associates

Overall View of Earth Hotel from Approach ©KPF Associates

When complete, the 240,000+ sf, proposed three-plus diamond rated Earth Hotel will complement the four-diamond Sky Hotel with a range of luxury amenities. These will include 400 deluxe guest rooms, an indoor pool, spa, and fitness center.

This ambitious project has a solid team behind it.  The Mohegan tribe turned to A/Z Corporation of Stonington, CT to build the hotel, which is expected to employ over 1,000 skilled tradesmen over a span of 19 months.

 

VIew of Mohegan Sun Sky Hotel and Earth Hotel  ©KPF Associates

VIew of Mohegan Sun Sky Hotel and Earth Hotel
©KPF Associates

“We’ve shared a longstanding partnership with Mohegan Sun… the development has been a fantastic opportunity to bring together a wide spectrum of talents,” remarked Robert J. Gervasini, Director at A/Z Corporation.  KPF Associates, the architectural firm behind the hotel, has also worked with the tribe for a number of years, beginning with the Sky Hotel in 1998.

 

As with every project of this size, the design team faced some challenges.  According to Lloyd Sigal, KPF Associates had to achieve a high quality design that remained cost effective so that they could meet the tribe’s budget at a time when construction prices were escalating. “Another challenge was to integrate the new hotel with the existing infrastructure and utilities. Ultimately we were able to fulfill both, resulting in a hotel that is at once progressive and efficient,” he said.

he project incorporates a number of sustainable features, including a curtain wall made out of a state-of-art energy efficient glass.  Internally, all light fixtures are energy efficient LEDs and CFLs. The lighting and HVAC systems in the guest rooms are also managed by a room automation system.

With so many parties involved, the cohesiveness of a project this size can easily be derailed.  So far this has not been the case.  Robert J. Gervasini remarked, “we’re working with many different trade contractors and vendors to make this project a reality. Building information modeling (BIM) has consistently been a great resource for coordinating the Earth Hotel MEP requirements and its interface with the existing resort and casino facility mechanical systems.”

When complete in October 2016, the Earth Hotel will be a majestic addition to Mohegan Sun’s 240 acre campus.  Tourists and gamers alike look forward to its opening.