TEMECULA, CA – After a six-month renovation, Pechanga Resort Casino’s Grand Ballroom reopened in early June for meetings and events. The updated 30,000-square-foot space features nearly 150 ft. of LED screens, new lighting, refreshed interior finishes, and updated cultural displays.
The all-encompassing makeover of the Pechanga Grand Ballroom comprised a complete, top-to-bottom refinishing including: new carpeting; millwork on the ceilings and door finishes; brand-new lighting, electrical and plumbing; and new audio-visual capabilities.
The Grand Ballroom now features three 10-ft. by 10-ft. LED panels in the foyer area. Meeting planners can showcase their own graphics and imagery on the full screen, or employ a tiled effect across the entire 100 sq. ft. LED footprint on each panel. Equally as impressive on an even larger scale, the Grand Ballroom’s interior features 110 ft. of built-in screens, ready-to-display videos, logos, presentations and virtually any other visually creative components groups may dream up. When not in use by groups or meetings, the panels display ultra-high quality video of scenic settings at Pechanga Resort Casino and on the Pechanga reservation.
The ballroom renovation provided Pechanga leaders the opportunity to further showcase the tribe’s culture and heritage. Ten windowed, oversized display insets feature artifacts and other important cultural relics. Meeting attendees and guests passing by headed to or from The Cove pools or Journey at Pechanga golf course can learn about the installations with descriptions of each piece shown on two flat screen LED TVs next to the displays.
“This renovation represents everything we are about at Pechanga, honoring our heritage while delivering world-class experiences,” said Sean Vasquez, President of the Pechanga Development Corporation. “When guests walk into this space, they should immediately understand they’re somewhere special, somewhere with deep cultural significance and modern excellence. The technology integration isn’t just about having the latest screens. It’s about creating flexible spaces that can transform to meet any event’s needs. But, what I’m most proud of are the cultural displays. Every guest who passes through will learn something about the Pechanga people and our connection to this land.”
Interior designers on the Pechanga Grand Ballroom transformation, Klai Juba Wald of Las Vegas, sought cohesion with Pechanga’s adjacent Summit Events Center, completed in 2018 as part of the resort casino’s $385 million expansion. Designers incorporated bold geometric patterns and vibrant colors with warm neutral tones and finishes. The goal was to honor the original design and create a synchronous blend of tradition with modern elegance.
Pechanga employed more than 200 technicians for the six-month construction project. Tradespeople and skilled laborers from across Southern California worked with Pechanga’s construction management to make the Grand Ballroom’s transformation come to life.
These crews also sent many tons of materials for recycling and reuse. Approximately 27,000 sq. ft. of carpeting was turned over for recycling to get made into carpet padding fiber. Pechanga construction crews ensured fluorescent lighting, cabling, copper wiring and many more no-longer-needed building materials from the former Grand Ballroom were sent to recycling instead of piling up landfills.
The newly redesigned and remodeled Grand Ballroom encompasses 21,476 sq. ft. The room can be divided into three separate sections and accommodate a total of more than 3,000 people set up theater-style.