Nicole Dalton Williams grew up seven minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, and many of her childhood memories are of trips to that gambler’s paradise. She went to the Castaways with her father to place sports bets and rode the Circus Circus tram. Most Friday nights the family dined at a casino or club on the Strip.
“I loved the lights and the people and the energy,” Williams says. “I loved the energy you feel when you walk into a casino.”
Now, she designs them.
Williams, who recently joined JCJ Architecture in Las Vegas, specializes in casino design. A graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in interior architecture, Williams has designed casinos in Macau, the Philippines, Russia and Vegas.
Williams was on the team that designed Resorts World Las Vegas which opened last week.
She also was part of the team that worked on Resorts World Las Vegas, the city’s first new casino in 10 years that opened June 25. Williams knew that high profile gig in her hometown would draw attention from the gaming industry and Las Vegas residents.
Williams relished the opportunity to work on the prestigious project.
“It wasn’t so much pressure as an excitement and enthusiasm,” Williams said. “I get to be a part of history. … My name is on that, and being local and knowing so many people here, I want to make my city proud, and I want to be proud of my work that’s going to be talked about all over the world.”
The fundamentals of casino design require an understanding of space, what is technically possible, and how every element must fit together. But Williams thinks that the best designers are able to transcend what is merely necessary and create a site that is enjoyable for gaming patrons.
“The biggest part of it is what a customer is going to touch, feel and see, and that’s what I pride myself on, having this innate sense of design and style,” she says. “I feel like I see the opportunity in things: How can we take a piece of jewelry and turn it into a light fixture? Or look at a geode and study its lines; take that and make it into something unique and different.
“I feel like my eyes are always open wherever I’m at, I’m always thinking, sketching and taking notes about the details of things.”
While every casino is unique, certain design elements must be incorporated into every project. Dining options should be accessible and easy to find. Security measures shouldn’t be intimidating. And no matter a casino’s location, one element is crucial.
“Every casino, no matter what part of the world it’s in, needs clear pathways,” Williams says. “You never want the guest to feel confused. I know a lot of people think we just want to get people in and confuse them and never let them out, but it’s the complete opposite.
“If you’re a guest and walking around in circles and can’t figure out how to get out, you’re not going to want to go back there again.”
While Williams’ work has taken her all over the world, the Casino Sochi project was unique. The site of the 2014 Winter Olympics, Williams found Sochi to be a charming town of ski chalets, quaint and quiet.
But there were cultural differences. Not only did Williams have to work with relatives of the client (Domain LLC) who also were interior designers, she wasn’t used to how the Russians conducted business meetings.
“I’m very enthusiastic when I present,” she says. “And there wasn’t a lot said after the presentation. But after a few days they warmed up. I got them to sign off on everything and approve the design, and they loved it.”
