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Architects emphasize durability and character: terracotta palette, canopy, 75‑year life
Summary
Design teams emphasized honoring Avalon's Spanish‑colonial character while using durable materials and prefabrication to minimize maintenance and over‑water construction; Rios proposed terracotta‑colored metal tiles, open sightlines and a central piazza.
Simone LaPenta, design director with Rios, said the team's design intent was to "conclude the gesture without competing with the casino" and presented a canopy‑first approach that preserves visual connection to the island's landmark casino. "We imagine the building to be a beautiful, effortless canopy floating from the mountains to the water," LaPenta said.
Both finalist teams prioritized long‑life materials (75‑year design life) and options to reduce exposed metals that require recurring coatings. Mike Scott (RM Design) and Nina Majoop (engineer) described combinations of CMU at the ocean‑facing side and structural steel for the canopy legs, wrapped in protective finishes to limit long‑term maintenance. Teams proposed a mix of tile and stucco on pedestrian‑facing elevations to maintain the island's vernacular while enabling modular prefabrication to lower on‑island construction time.
Council members welcomed options for solar integration and flat roof areas for easier repair; designers said they'll present comparative cost/benefit analyses during Stage 1 so the council can weigh upfront cost versus total cost of ownership.
