The Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, CA is now the Agua Caliente Casino + Resort + Spa after a $300-million project by VOA Associates and Roel Construction Co. added a new 16-story, 340-room hotel, spa, entertainment and conference complex, as well as a major renovation to the existing casino.

The hotel's exterior displays natural materials that mirror the philosophy of Frank Lloyd Wright in making new construction harmonious with its landscape, says VOA's Managing Principal Jonathan F. Douglass. “The hotel stands as an icon that is visible among the freeway, a building that creates great memories for its design and the experience it brings,” he says.

The décor is rich with earth tones and natural colors, complementing the desert setting, home to the resort's owners, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, a 382-member tribe in Southern California.

All 340 guestrooms and suites have stunning views of the San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains and at 550 square feet, they provide plenty of comfort to enjoy the views through floor-to-ceiling windows. Opulent bathrooms feature walls and floors in Italian marble, a garden tub and a frameless glass shower. The resort also includes a pool and cabana complex, five restaurants and two retail shops.

“This is the first hotel the tribe has ever built,” says Richard M. Milanovich, chairman of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. “We're pleased to have a beautiful piece of architectural and interior design that represents the realization of our dream.”