b'Construction briefingGeneralHolland Casino is a Dutch state-owned company that has fourteen casinos located across the Netherlands. The casino in Venlo is a completely new, spectacular building, designed by MVSA Architects in collaboration with casino specialists from the American design firm Gensler. The project was the first of a major renewal program for Holland Casinos buildings. The brief for the project was developed by the casinos own facility and real estate department and it covered both the desired user experience and operational aspects such storage, catering and security. The projects brief served as a basis for the development of a standardized brief which Holland Casino now uses for all their casino renewal projects. Strategic Functional TechnicalOne of the main objectives forThe brief described all theThe technical part of the the new building was greaterfunctions and spaces that had tobrief covered the technical visibility for potential visitors.be realized inside the building,challenges that are typical for Holland Casino selected adrawing a distinction betweencasinos. One of these is cabling. plot beside a major motorwayfront-of-house and back-of- The casinos gaming areas connecting the Netherlandshouse functions. The front-of- feature gambling machines and with Germany, thereby targetinghouse functions comprise theother equipment that require a an international audience.entrance area (with a lobby,large number of power and data The project brief accordinglycashier spaces, VIP meetingcables. According to the brief, stipulated that the visibilityrooms, and cloakrooms), a foodall these cables had to be hidden of the location should be fully& beverage zone, and obviouslyfor safety and aesthetic reasons, utilized and that the buildingvarious kind of gambling areas.but also be accessible for should be recognizable from aThe back-of-house areasmaintenance and changes in the great distance. The brief alsocomprise office spaces for staff,floors layout. For those reasons, mentioned that the buildinga workshop for repairing slotthe brief asked for heavy-duty, should have a high-quality,machines, a staff canteen, staffraised computer floors topped representative appearancedressing rooms and a dressingby a layer of casino carpet. and have an iconic faade.room for entertainers whoAnother important topic is The latter was translated by thecome to perform at the casino.obviously security. The brief architects into a 25-metre-highNot surprisingly, the brief alsomentions anti-intrusion glazing LED facade that can changespecified a money counting areaand even extra heavy anti-colour and display messagesand a safe, while also noting thatintrusion glazing for spaces and animations. most transactions are electronicwhere money is handled. In The projects overarchingthese days. One probablyaddition, the brief specified strategic goal was to attracttypically Dutch requirementdetailed requirements and retain visitors. In relationwas the request for two bicycleconcerning access systems, to this, the brief mentions thesheds (one for staff, one foralarm systems, CCTV systems importance of free parkingvisitors). and burglary detection systems. facilities, the quality and variety of the gaming offerings, the food & beverage options and the provision of new features such as high-limit areas, an experience zone and a sports bar. 217'