Systems integrator and surveillance product manufacturer North American Video (NAV) rolled the dice on a fast-timeline project for the Wynn Las Vegas. With just over a year to complete the security system after being awarded the project in March 2004, NAV has announced that they completed the massive project just before the April 28 official grand opening of casino mogul Steve Wynn's new flagship casino and hotel.
Days before the casino and hotel resort opened, the security system received full certification from Nevada's Gaming Control Board, which sets strict guidelines for casino security.
As dramatic as the Wynn Las Vegas is, with its bronze-colored, sail-like shape floating over the Vegas strip, the security system is reputed to be equally as impressive. It's a fully digital system that bridges technology from a variety of developers, including Lenel and Honeywell Video.
According to NAV President Cynthia Freschi, the Wynn project was their biggest yet.
"This is by far the largest single installation we as a company have ever performed, or even are aware of around the world," said Freschi. "Since we were awarded the system contract last year, our staff has been working literally around the clock to assure we lived up to our commitments."
According to Vince Galdi, who handles public relations and marketing for North American Video, the Wynn's security system was a project even larger than the Borgata Casino (Atlantic City) system, which had previously been considered the largest security system ever installed. That system was also implemented by NAV.
The Wynn security system was a design of well-known New Jersey-based security company M. Malia & Associates, which had previously designed systems at other NAV clients, including Isle of Capri Casinos and Seminole Hard Rock Casinos & Hotels. The two companies are currently working together on another Wynn project, a resort in Macau.
At the Wynn Las Vegas, under the oversight of casino developer and contractor Marnell Carraro, NAV worked with Fisk Technologies to implement the Malia design. The system, besides being notable for its size and its all-digital nature, integrates a Honeywell Video Systems' Enterprise Solution with Video Blox UTP matrix system controlled by Honeywell's MAX1000 management system. Tied into the Honeywell Video System is an enterprise-wide Lenel alarm system, the integration of which "was key to the overall operation," according to Freschi.
Freschi said she thought the size of the system and some of the unique integrations performed as part of the installation will create benchmarks for future casino security systems.
"The capabilities of this massive system far exceed the most advanced system configurations typically modeled for gaming facilities," said Freschi, who added that the system is a "technology showcase."
Indeed, it isn't difficult to see why the system would be a showcase. After all, there were a lot of facilities to secure: over 2,700 hotel rooms, a resort with a price tag of $2.7 billion, a lavish setting that uses over 200 acres (much of it a Fazio-designed golf course), a 2,000-plus seat theater, 137 gaming tables, almost 2,000 slot machines, plus a sports/race book and individual areas for keno, poker and baccarat spreading across the 100,000-plus square feet of casino space. The resort doesn't stop there. Tack on 220,000-plus square feet of convention/trade show space and 76,000 square feet of retail (including a Ferrari dealership inside the resort!), and you start to get a picture of the system's scope.
