Share this page:

Argosy Casino

Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Michelangelo worked wonders in paint on the famed Sistine Chapel ceiling. In the 21st century, wondrous ceilings can be painted with light.

Case in point? The newly remodeled 62,000 square foot Argosy Casino in Kansas City features a hexagonal dome that comes to life with vibrant color and movement, thanks to Gallegos Lighting Design’s inspired application of Color Kinetics’ intelligent LED lighting technology.

The dome itself, which resembles an inverted basketweave pattern, provided a lighting challenge with its angular “wedges” and limited space for fixtures. The Gallegos team sought to animate the dome with color-changing light, and Color Kinetics’ iColor® Cove systems proved the optimal solution for generating saturated color and programmable effects within the shallow wedges that comprise the dome structure. The Gallegos team sought to animate the dome with color-changing light, and Color Kinetics’ iColor® Cove systems proved the optimal solution for generating saturated color and programmable effects within the shallow wedges that comprise the dome structure.

“The Hex Dome functions as a central focal point of the Casino gaming area, and the intention of the design was to create a unique visual anchor through which the guest can pass,“ says Karl Haas, Principal with Gallegos Lighting Design.

Approximately 440 12” lengths of iColor Cove were installed in increments of nine per wedge, forming nearly 150 unique addresses. Collectively, the systems create a digital palette that morphs through 50 minutes of artistically conceived effects – including rich colors that gradually snake across the dome, radiate outward, and chase in spiral patterns.

Elsewhere in the casino, which features a Mediterranean-inspired interior design by Designplan Inc., an eye-catching path lined with color-changing stars leads to the High Limit room. The cast acrylic stars are each illuminated from within by three lengths of iColor Cove, allowing them to bounce colors from one to the next and perform various dynamic effects in a 20-minute cycle. All of the lighting effects were programmed and controlled by a DMX system.

With the creative liberties and operational efficiencies they deliver, it’s no wonder that LED-based systems are inspiring a new generation of artists and designers alike.