World-renowned casino architects Steelman Partners says it aimed to combine “cultural authenticity” with “luxurious amenities” when the opportunity arose to design the recently opened Mohegan INSPIRE integrated resort in Incheon Korea.
Created in partnership with New York-based interior architect Jeffrey Beers, INSPIRE held its official grand opening earlier this month, boasting Korea’s largest foreigner-only casino project, offering 150 gaming tables, 390 slot machines and a 160-seat electronic table games (ETG) stadium across two floors, plus three hotel towers, MICE facilities, signature restaurants, an entertainment street and indoor water park. A retail mall, outdoor experiential space, international food court, immersive content exhibition hall and indoor children’s playground are all scheduled to open by mid-2024.
Explaining the property’s design concept in a statement issued last week, Steelman Partners founder Paul Steelman said Mohegan INSPIRE drew upon the concept of Mohegan Gaming’s first IR, Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, but also looked to blend “cultural authenticity with luxurious amenities.”
“We aimed to transport guests into an immersive Asian experience featuring opulent accommodations, exquisite dining options, and captivating entertainment,” he said. “Meticulously creating spaces and cutting-edge technology further elevated the guest experience. This endeavor marked a milestone for Mohegan and represented a commitment to innovation and cultural appreciation in resort development.”
On the design process, Steelman added, “The resort’s development has been collaborative, with Steelman Partners (from Las Vegas) handling the conceptual architecture and our team serving as the interior designers for critical areas such as Aurora and Splash Bay.
“Additionally, Jeffrey Beers from New York contributed his expertise as an interior designer for another portion of the interiors. It’s been an incredible journey working alongside a diverse group of architects, designers, and engineers from Korea who have brought their unique perspectives and talents to the project.”
INSPIRE has become the second integrated resort in Incheon alongside Paradise City, which opened in 2017.