Charles Town Races & Slots is growing. A $70-million expansion project is well under way at the gaming area in Charles Town, WV, according to CEO James Buchanan.
“We started construction in the beginning of November 2001, and we hope to end sometime next summer,” Buchanan said. “The project entails about 75,000 square feet of public space for an entertainment lounge, food court, gaming area and gift shop. It also includes about 25,000 square feet of service level for a new employee cafeteria, wardrobe facility, mechanical/electrical rooms, beverage dispensing room, food storage facility, loading dock, employee dressing rooms and security office.”
Ken Schultz is the project manager for Charles Town Races & Slots. The prime contractor is Howard Shockey and Sons Inc., Winchester, VA, under Project Manager John Grannis.
According to Grannis, the project involves a steel-framed building with 102,388 sq. ft. of gaming and food service space and a four and one-half level precast parking garage with 1,510 spaces.
“Several challenges were encountered during Phase I construction,” Grannis said. “The first is related to the subsurface condition as it relates to the Kirst rock formation. The depth of rock ranged from 4LF to 124LF, which made progress unpredictable. The soil contains generous amounts of clay. This presented numerous drainage issues, and, because of the material, would not readily compact. Imported material was required for backfill of foundation walls.”
Grannis noted that the other major concern was the need to work adjacent to an operating facility. The existing racetrack and casino remained open for business seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. “Therefore, construction activities were planned so as not to affect public access or interrupt utilities such as power, telephone, water or sewer to the existing structure.”
The earthwork included site grading, a retention pond, and building foundation excavation. Grannis reported that a total of 24,000 cu. yds. (18,349 cu m) of total earth was moved for the project, with approximately 12,000 cu. yds. (9,174 cu m) exported and 4,000 cu. yds. (3,058 cu m) of imported backfill material.
Primary building materials include 7,720 linear ft. (2,353 m) of steel mini-pile, 5,160 cu. yds. (3,945 cu m) of concrete foundation slabs, 500 tons (450 t) of structural steel, 907 pieces of precast concrete, 69,032 sq. ft. (6,413 sq m) of membrane roofing and 21,000 sq. ft. (1,952 sq m) of EIFS.
Grannis noted that manpower peaked at 205 workers. Major subcontractors include Perry Engineering, Winchester, excavation and utilities; Hayward Baker, Odenton, MD, mini-piles; Southland Concrete, Dulles, VA, cast-in-place concrete; Shockey Precast Group, Winchester, precast concrete garage; Liphart Steel, Verona, VA, structural and miscellaneous steel; Hagerstown Lumber Co., Hagerstown, MD, custom millwork; Anderson Roofing & Sheet Metal Works, Winchester, membrane roofing; Recreation Development Company, Las Vegas, NV, interior theming finishes; Omega Drywall, Winchester, framing, drywall, ceilings, and EIFS; James J. Smith & Sons, Greencastle, PA, paint and wall covering; Schindler Elevator, Linthicum, MD, hydraulic elevators; James Craft & Son, York Haven, PA, HVAC and plumbing; East Coast Fire Protection, Salem, VA, sprinkler system; and Ellsworth Electric Inc., Hagerstown, electrical, fire alarm and power generators.
Perry Engineering’s major equipment list includes a Cat 963 loader, a Cat 330 excavator, a Hitachi 300 excavator, a JD 6446 RT loader, a Cat D5C dozer, a JD 790 Hog with breaker, a Cat D6 dozer, a Cat 12G grader, three Cat D250 off-road trucks, a Cat 815 compactor, and a Dynapac CA251D compactor.
Shockey Precast Group also used a 250T Link-Belt LS278H crawler and Liphart Steel used a 70T rubber-tired crane.
Charles Town originally opened on Dec. 2, 1933, and was the only operating track in America at the time. Hall of Fame jockey Bill Hartack started his career there in 1952, going on to win 4,777 races, including the Kentucky Derby five times, the Preakness three times and the Belmont once.
In 1960, the grandstand and clubhouse were completely enclosed and heated. Penn National Gaming Inc. purchased the race track in 1997. The company added video lottery terminals, new barns, and a multi-million dollar simulcast center.
Today, Charles Town offers slot play, live and simulcast horse racing, sweepstakes, and a full range of dining and drinking choices.
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