Bally’s Casino Kansas City

Bally’s acquired this floating riverboat-style facility in 2020 and determined they would invest $40M to undertake a dramatic transformation of the existing property. The site is located at downtown Kansas City’s northern gateway and is bordered on the west by the large-scale redevelopment of waterfront parcels that are transforming former industrial uses into live-work-play destinations.

JCJ was retained to transform the property and create a fresh new identity. The project included two major components: a 35,600 square foot land-based expansion, to include a new river-facing entry and F&B amenities, and the complete reimagining facade of the riverboat to create a dramatic new impression of the property.

The centerpiece of the project’s evolution is the land-based expansion with an architectural expression that pays tribute to Kansas City’s history of embracing bold form-making. Drawing inspiration from the Bond Bridge, the entry façade artfully interprets and adapts these forms into audacious triangular flares that create a bold and memorable structural expression. This vocabulary is carried through the interior which provides a new gaming floor entry, two F&B venues and a connector to structured parking.

Alterations to the existing riverboat exterior were designed to be cost effective and provide a bold departure from the existing aesthetic. Challenged with a floating and fully operational riverboat-style casino, the design team drew inspiration from two primary sources: the iconic works of artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude and the coordinated program of building illumination that is a signature of Kansas City. The existing structure has been artfully “wrapped” to create a dynamic statement that retains but conceals the existing structure. Utilizing a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-coated fiberglass membrane with integrated and programmable LED technology, the exterior provides an expansive building façade spanning 300 feet by 65 feet that can change color with the seasons and events.