RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – A global design team is helping reshape the heart of downtown Reno, turning the shuttered Harrah\u2019s Casino into a vibrant, multi-use destination.<\/p>\n
The project, now dubbed \u201cReno Revival,\u201d spans six acres and two full city blocks at 219 North Center Street. It\u2019s being led by Ahlquist Development in partnership with world-renowned architecture firm Gensler.<\/p>\n
J.F. Finn, Gensler\u2019s lead architect for the project, visited Reno this week to continue design and planning sessions. He says his goal is to turn a historic space into a modern hub while preserving elements of its past.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe think this is the catalyst to bring Reno not only to its former life, but to its future life,\u201d Finn said. \u201cThis can be the launch pad for all the other things that can happen in Reno.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finn has worked on over two dozen revival projects across the U.S., including Las Vegas\u2019 $8.4 billion CityCenter and The Hub on Causeway in Boston.<\/p>\n
Construction on the Reno Revival is expected to begin in late summer or early fall of 2025. The redevelopment will include: 282 apartment units in two towers, over 133,000 square feet of retail and entertainment space, 120,000 square feet of office space, a 900-space parking garage, a nationally branded, 390-room non-gaming hotel, a grocery store, and public plaza.<\/p>\n
The project was pulled out of bankruptcy earlier this year by Madison Capital Group, with development and local design leadership now led by Brianna Bullentini.<\/p>\n
Bullentini, a Reno native and architect, previously redeveloped the Old Post Office downtown into the retail hub now known as \u201cThe Basement.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an exciting project because of the financial tools we\u2019re putting together,\u201d Bullentini said. \u201cWe\u2019re using financing models and parcel mapping strategies that have never been done in Reno before.\u201d<\/p>\n
Facilities Director Monte Shaw has worked inside the building for more than 25 years and remains heavily involved in the redesign. \u201cIt\u2019s just an emotional time to watch the building go from what it was down to a gutted masterpiece that\u2019s coming,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
One notable relic inside the building is a 1942 submarine engine, installed by Bill Harrah in the 1960s to power the building in case of outages. It remains in the south basement today.<\/p>\n
The design team plans to weave Reno-specific themes throughout the space, creating what Finn described as \u201ca place that really feels like Reno.\u201d<\/p>\n
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