Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway

Gambling is a game of chance, but you never get a second chance to make a first impression. That’s why the architects and owners of Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway took no chances by selecting Birdair when building its porte-cochere as part of a $50 million expansion project.

“The entrance to any building, particularly in the entertainment industry, not only has to be inviting, it also has to be exciting.” said David Capezzuto, Director of Business Development, Birdair North America. “Wherever people are going to spend their hard earned dollars, you have to set high expectations, and with Studio V Architecture’s design featuring Birdair’s ETFE system, this new porte-cochere delivers in spades.”

Jay Valgora, the principal and founder of STUDIO V Architecture says, “At Empire City Casino, we set out to re-invent the modern casino.” That included “a dramatic porte-cochere utilizing exotic structural systems and innovative materials.” STUDIO V chose Birdair’s next-generation material, ETFE Film (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) for a variety of reasons, including aesthetics, performance and sustainability.

One of the most lightweight and transparent cladding materials available, ETFE is a perfect application for roofing and façade construction, particularly in the 11,000-square-foot application for Empire City Casino. Its design was inspired by the unique landscape of the hill-top track at Yonkers Raceway and required a material that could flow as the landscape did.

The canopy was designed and engineered by FTL Design Engineering Studio, a pioneer of tensile structure design and construction technologies. Described by many as “sculptural,” their innovative port cochere design seems to grow out of the surrounding hillside.