As part of the award-winning expansion and renovation of Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, Nassal partnered with Turner Construction and the Cuningham Group to help create a dramatic arrival experience within the resort’s signature rotunda. Located on the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Reservation in Cherokee, North Carolina, the resort transformed into one of the region’s premier hospitality and gaming destinations through a $6 million expansion that elevated both the scale and guest experience of the property.

Nassal served as the design-build fabricator for the rotunda, developing and fabricating many of its most recognizable features. The centerpiece of the space is a pair of 68-foot-tall waterfalls that cascade from the ceiling to a collection pool below, creating a dynamic visual focal point within the lobby. Surrounding the waterfalls are eight towering tree columns reaching approximately 60 feet in height. Each structure contains more than 30,000 programmable LED lights that synchronize with music, video content and lighting effects to transform the environment throughout the day.

The project required close coordination from concept development through final installation. Working alongside the design and construction teams, Nassal delivered a turnkey solution that included schematic design support, shop drawings, fabrication, audio-visual integration, lighting integration and field installation. This collaborative approach allowed the team to maximize the project budget while accommodating the unique technical and architectural requirements of the space.

The completed rotunda serves as the visual centerpiece of Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, welcoming guests with a combination of water, light and immersive environmental design. The project demonstrates Nassal’s ability to integrate fabrication, technology and themed architectural features into a cohesive hospitality environment that continues to define the guest experience at one of the nation’s leading casino resorts.