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Project Highlight: Hard Rock Casino

Reliance was thrilled to provide commissioning services for the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana project! Located near the south shore of Lake Michigan in Gary, Indiana, the casino broke ground in January 2020, while everyone was still blissfully unaware of the approaching pandemic. Reliance’s commissioning engineers worked with the project team to adjust to the new COVID-19 safety measures and keep the project on schedule. The team included Hard Rock International, T. N. Ward, SOSH Architects, GSA, the Hagerman Group, Circle R Mechanical, Johnson Controls, and many other great subcontractors.

This was an exciting, as well as a challenging project. With 14 Rooftop Air Handlers and 9 Energy Recovery Units, our engineers spent a lot of time on the roof! Reliance maintained an active presence onsite throughout construction, performing monthly site visits, witnessing startups of major equipment, and identifying and tracking issues to resolution. Reliance conducted the bulk of our functional testing in May 2021, returning 6 months later in November to perform seasonal testing. Seasonal testing ensures mechanical systems work optimally in opposing seasons, and while equipment is still under warranty. Reliance also oversaw and compiled documentation of training provided by the contractors on the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.

The casino opened with its traditional Hard Rock guitar-smashing ceremony in May 2021. Since then, it has quickly become the top earning casino in Indiana. The new $300M casino features 1,700 slots, 80 table games, sportsbook, 5 restaurants, 2 bars, a 200-room hotel and a Hard Rock Live entertainment venue. If you’re in the area, it’s definitely worth checking out this state-of-the-art facility!