The World`s Largest Dockside Casino

ESTD. 1977
www.gephartelectric.com
TM
GRAND CASINO TUNICA
ROBINSONVILLE, MISSISSIPPI
SERVICE:
DESIGN/ASSIST (Electrical work)
DESIGN/BUILD (Low voltage work)
BUDGET:
$24,800,000 (Initial Phase)
$20,000,000 (Subsequent Phases)
HIGHLIGHTS:
• World’s largest dockside casino
• World’s fourth-largest surveillance
installation
• Installed more than 4,000 light fixtures
and more than 3,000 slot machines
The World’s Largest Dockside Casino
THE PROJECT
Gephart provided Design/Build and Design/Assist services for the construction of the world's largest dockside casino, the Grand Casino
Tunica, in Robinsonville, Mississippi. The project’s initial phase included seven restaurants, two live entertainment lounges, a
porte-cochere and receiving building/central plants.
OUR PLANNING
We recruited, interviewed, and hired the local supervisory team early to develop camaraderie through the preconstruction, layout,
coordination, and planning stages. This preparation and team-building ensured that everyone knew the plan and could hit the ground
running when construction began.
OUR WORK
The immensely large project presented several unique logistical challenges. We had 75 electrical workers on the job within the first month
and more than 200 workers at the peak just a few months later, which required running two buses in a loop to bring all of our workers into
and out of the site for each shift. In addition, the casino was being built on three river barges in the backwaters of the Mississippi River
which required a different set of methods and materials from standard commercial construction and presented the challenge of
establishing “level.”
ESTD. 1977
GRAND CASINO TUNICA
ROBINSONVILLE, MISSISSIPPI
EL ECT RI C
In addition to contending with the installation of more than 4,000 light fixtures, 3,000 slot machines, four 1760 KW generators, eight chilled
water/cooling tower assemblies, and two 35 KV primary high voltage services, we also overcame a big last-minute challenge. One day
before opening, the lighting designer changed the gaming floor lighting design. Our crews literally worked around the clock, removing or
relocating each lighting fixture on the gaming floor to complete the adjustments in time for the opening.
SUCCESS
After only nine months, we completed the initial construction phase using fast-track, design-assist construction, and two shifts of six,
ten-hour days per week. Gephart’s key leaders, along with contractors, architects, and engineers, spent many evenings meeting over
dinner to discuss the project’s progress and challenges and drafting solutions on napkins to implement in construction. We lived the job,
worked closely together, and formed bonds that have resulted in lasting friendships and business partnerships.
Services Performed:
CABLING
COMPUTER/TELEPHONE RACEWAY SYSTEMS
ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
EMERGENCY SYSTEMS, POWER, & GENERATOR
FIBER-OPTIC SURVEILLANCE CAMERA & SOUND SYSTEMS
HIGH VOLTAGE & HIGH VOLTAGE DISTRIBUTION
HVAC CONTROL
LIGHTING & DIMMING SYSTEMS
LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEM
LOW VOLTAGE & SPECIAL SYSTEMS
SECURITY, SURVEILLANCE, & CATV
DATA, TELEPHONE, TELEVISIONS, & P.O.S. SYSTEMS
UPS SYSTEM
“ In the course of my 33 years in the construction industry I have worked with
many very good electrical contractors, none have been better than Gephart
Electric. Since 1994 they have performed in excess of $50 million of electrical
work including three casinos, five hotels, a convention center, two theaters, a
major college football stadium, a golf clubhouse, a convention center, a day care
center, and many millions of dollars worth of site work. All of their work was
completed on time and under budget. I found their work to be of the highest
quality and their approach to performance to be innovative. I look forward to
continuing my relationship with Gephart Electric.”
Tom Baird, Vice President, Gaming & Hospitality, Roy Anderson Corp