A star-lit sky and lighted, treed pathways serve to connect the five distinct environments of the interior of this building. Smuggler's Court provides a glimpse into yesteryear's perilous adventures of Jean Lafitte and the days of piracy. The Court of Good Fortune, emphasizing proximity to water and the resultant thriving trade, reflects the economic strength of New Orleans. One result of the economic boom was the development of the city's garden area, where the affluent resided in stately mansions. Thus Mansion Court, complete with a garden buffet area, even features a grand ballroom.

The last two courts reflect what is perhaps most acclaimed about this city of New Orleans...the Mardi gras celebration and the sound of cool jazz. The 7' tall jester beckons the visitor to enter and meander along a mock-up of Bourbon Street, experiencing the fun of Mardi gras. Finally, central to the outlying courts, is Jazz Court, a simulated outdoor courtyard with a grand oak tree at its center. Here, lighted sculptures celebrate legendary music, and the sweet sounds of jazz resonate.

Our first challenge was to design exterior lighting that would accent the landscaping; convey the sense of a safe, secure atmosphere; and draw people into the casino. Thorough planning and meticulous integration of landscape features and lighting techniques were essential to ensure a cohesive and appealing design. This was accomplished via a series of layers. The palm trees, accentuated by uplighting, provide the first impression. Following the trees, the eye is drawn to a row of illuminated flags. Then comes the highlighting of several architectural columns. Appearing next are the steps, well lighted and well defined. Fifth in the layering is the sculpture that adorns the outside of the presidium. The final introductory layer creates a warm and welcoming space, drawing the visitor into the foyer.

Palm Trees

Located on all four sides of the building, rows of palm trees are illuminated with a combination of HPS and MH uplighting sources. Because this lighting effect is not often seen in a natural setting, the impact tends to be quite dramatic. Shades of gold and silver are reflected in the trunks of the trees. As the fronds above sway in the breeze, the two sources of light create a canopy, almost ethereal in nature. Such an incredible effect is created by using 4 HID sources, 2 metal halide lights and 2 sodium fixtures. The metal halide accentuates the green fronds, while the sodium fixtures give texture and color to the brown trunks. By combining the sodium with metal halide, a spectacular platinum cast is projected onto the numerous palm tree trunks.

As Tivoli lighting defines the outer porte-cochere, the building becomes one with the open truss area. Through variations in lighting techniques, interior columns are distinguished from the outer, better defining the entrance to the building.

Metal halides uplight the multi-colored flags behind the palm trees. The sodium we used enriches the vividness of the colors, creating a warmer hue. Crafted from sandstone, the architectural columns help define the shape and form of the building. Because there are no walls there, we illuminated the columns to profile the entrance way to the building. The architectural columns also provide an anchor for the artwork located above. By using sodium to illuminate the columns, we were able to soften the lines of the columns and create a warmer look.

Stairs

We contrasted the steps by using a combination of metal halide with fiber optics. This provides the black steps with light for security and definition. The outcome is a stairway that appears to float at the entrance to the casino. We used an innovative fiber optic system to achieve this effect. In fact, this was one of the longest applications of side-emitting optic ever attempted.

Each step is lighted with a single continuous run of fiber optic cable, in excess of 100 feet in length. Typically, a loss of brightness occurs toward the center of a long run. Driven from each end, our runs offer no visual perception of light loss. Two factors contributed to our success in this installation. One, we regulated the size of the radius of the cable, thereby ensuring maximum flow of light. Two, we carefully monitored the installation, taking great pains to be certain that the stairs were level and the cable line was perfectly straight. Optical assembly systems must be carefully matched for a successful application.

Advantages to fiber optic cable include practical outdoor application, low maintenance, and longevity. We were able to place the illuminators in vaults at each end of the steps, so that they are protected from direct exposure; this is an ideal environment for their operation. Pressure washers can be used to clean the steps as well as the optic, with no worry about water entering an electrical device. Replacement procedures are also simplified. Only two replacement bulbs per step are required, as opposed to a possible twenty-four bulbs per step in a typical electrical step-lighting application. Once it is installed, fiber optic cable, for the most part, is impervious to water and most chemicals. Therefore, it can withstand the outdoor elements for a long period of time.

Safety is a major advantage of fiber optic application in this particular setting. The ability to place light directly at the transition point for each step provides increased protection for patrons. In addition, no electricity whatsoever runs along the step, and no electrical devices need protection from such external elements as moisture.

The same technique, a single continuous run of fiber optic cable, was applied to the interior when we proceeded to illuminate the escalator. The handrail of the escalator that runs from Jazz Court to the second level of the building, a distance greater than 100 feet, is a single, illuminated line. Again, meticulous care in the installation was critical to its successful performance.

Artwork and Foyer

The artwork, sculpture located at the apex of the building, is greatly enhanced by lighting. Images are accentuated, clearly defined, and very dramatic. The use of sodium helps to create the illusion of warm, deep-set shadows on sculpture that is actually fairly close to the wall. Lighting also helps tie the artwork to the theme of the building. In the foyer of the casino, the final layer of the entrance, we created a warm, inviting atmosphere by employing incandescent downlighting and chandeliers. Fitted with flicker-flame lamps, these chandeliers create the illusion of gaslight. Smooth transition into the interior of a building is the result of optimum lighting systems. In the case of Harrah's Casino New Orleans, the goal was clear. We resolved to give people entering the casino the feeling that they were still in an outdoor courtyard in New Orleans.

The indoor pathways have fiber optic ceilings, representing nighttime skies. The large chandeliers that grace the foyer are also suspended along the pathways, simulating the gaslighting of eras past. As people move from the exterior of the building into the central pathway system, it is important to keep the light levels within a ratio that will create comfortable visual adaptation. This transition process begins at the exterior of the building and continues through the foyer.

Colonnade

When proceeding along Canal Street en route to Harrah's Casino New Orleans, visitors can enter an arch of palm fronds, a virtual colonnade of textures and color. When the breeze creates movement in the tops of the palm trees, an almost surreal swirl of illumination results.

The key to achieving this result is the mixture of the two light sources. The metal halide is strong in the blue spectrum, and the sodium is strong in the yellow-green end of the spectrum. The precise blend of the two sources creates a wash of illumination along the trunks, producing an image of palm trees that appear to glow. The actual light source, located in the tree well and flush with the sidewalk grate, is not visible to the passerby. Therefore, the source of the lighting seems to generate from within the tree itself. Not only is this an aesthetic experience, but the walkway is also well defined for safety purposes.

Washed Walls and Columns

Beyond the palm trees stand the illuminated walls of the building. We washed the walls with light so that the lower-level landscaping is silhouetted onto the building. Against a field of light, the outlined foliage takes on a luminous cast. Contrast in the various plant shapes is emphasized -- from tall, slender forms to short, rounded contours. The landscaping helps to outline the architectural structure, giving the surrounding space definition.

Directly in front of the building is a water fountain featuring dancing swirls of colored light. The exterior columns of the main porte-cochere are illuminated with sodium. This application was selected because the human eye is first drawn to the warmer colors of the spectrum. The warm glow of the columns, created by the sodium fixtures, tends to attract people to the building.

Within the porte-cochere environs, 3K (3000 degree Kelvin scale) metal halide is introduced to the interior columns, distinguishing between the two sets of columns and defining the entrance to the building. Metal halide was chosen for the inner area of the porte-cochere for two reasons. One, the size of the area warranted the use of an efficient light source. The sustained burning capability of metal halide is an ongoing cost consideration. Two, 3K metal halide gave us the best color-rendering possible out of this HID source. Accurate color-rendering creates a more flattering atmosphere for patrons' personal appearance. Since the valet parking service operates in this area, true color is also important for proper identification of automobiles.

Landscaping played a major role in the atmosphere we set out to create. By designing lighting systems that work in concert with the existing landscape, we were able to create an entrance that communicates a sense of safety, as well as a sense of excitement. The Landscape Architects at the site were Charles Chaplinger and John Eblen from Perez Ernst Farnet / Modus, Inc.

We used Tivoli lighting to visually define a ceiling to an open truss area. At night we needed to connect the building to the outer porte-cochere. Since this was an open structure, we introduced a level of Tivoli lighting, something on which the eye could focus. The technique of outlining the architectural space through the use of Tivoli lamps helps define the form around which the landscaping is created.

Of paramount importance in the truss area is the safety and security of patrons and personnel. As the main driveway converges with the encircling sidewalks, this site is often congested with pedestrian movement and automobile traffic. Therefore, adequate illumination is critical. We achieved this goal by installing an ample level of vertical footcandles. Adequate lighting ensures that all people and automobiles are well defined and easily visible.

The effects conveyed in these photographs are the result of a thoughtfully conceived plan, careful coordination, and diligent attention to detail. A successful blend of architecture, landscaping, and lighting has produced a casino that reflects an aura of sophistication and style. The essence of New Orleans comes alive within the flickering lights of the landscape. LASN

The Elwyn Gee Group, Inc. in Novato, California is the lighting designer for the Harrah's Jazz Casino, in New Orleans, Louisiana. For more information, call them at 415-209-6919. All photos provided by Peter Malinowski at Insite Architectural Photography.