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Sto Case Study - Seminole Brighton Bay Hotel & Casino
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| Sep 23, 2025 |
StoTherm® ci HVHZ with StoCast Wood and StoColor Metallic accents delivers a code-exceeding, sustainable façade system that supports the Tribe’s commitment to safety and resilience.
Façade: StoTherm® ci HVHZ provides the perfect facade system for a creative finish that aligns with the projects on brand – merging modern aesthetics with cultural expression and performance-driven design.
In 1980, the Seminole Tribe of Florida opened the Seminole Brighton Bay Hotel & Casino just west of Lake Okeechobee on the Brighton Seminole Reservation. While the reservation was in a remote area known for hunting and fishing, the casino proved to be a huge success. But as the decades passed, the “old red barn,” as some locals called it, began to show its age. As part of its ongoing review of property performance, the Seminole Gaming Commission identified an opportunity to invest in the Brighton Reservation with a destination-style facility. Plans were set in motion for a new, modern hotel and casino featuring updated amenities, meeting space, and a refreshed experience for guests –all designed to better serve the community and reflect the Tribe’s long-term vision.
The Vision: A Modern Building with Cultural Identity
Plans were drawn up for a 72,000-square-foot hotel and casino, which would include 100 guest rooms, multiple restaurants, a 10-lane bowling alley, an outdoor swimming pool, and flexible event space. The Tribe envisioned the new hotel and casino to be energy efficient and sustainable. Along with the modern build and amenities, they also wanted the facade aesthetic to pay homage to Seminole heritage. Key design features included elongated copper roofing elements inspired by traditional chickee structures, which were elevated, open-sided dwellings with thatched roofs that represented the Seminole word for “house”.
Originally, the building called for a metal panel over cast-in place concrete substrate designed to mimic wood. However, concerns emerged around integration between manufactures, cost, and extended construction timelines. The project’s architect, Miguel Goizueta of Grace Hebert Curtis Architects, began searching for an alternative solution that would save both time and money.
An Integrated System That Delivered More
Goizueta turned to Sto Corp., whose products he had used before and whose quality he trusted. With the help of Sto representative Jason Rivera, the team proposed a value-engineered alternative: StoTherm® ci with StoCast Wood and StoColor® Metallic. StoTherm ci is a high performance EIFS system with drainage, that combines continuous insulation with an integrated air and water-resistive barrier. StoCast Wood adds a realistic, wood-look finish using flexible, resin cast planks, while StoColor Metallic offers a shimmering, reflective surface ideal for distinctive accents and branding elements and a great alternative to metal panels.
While not a code requirement, the Tribe recognized the importance of building to higher standards and chose a system designed to meet the most stringent hurricane impact criteria. The selected solution is part of Sto’s Miami-Dade County-approved offerings for wind and impact resistance –critical for long-term performance in Florida’s storm-prone environment.
By switching to Sto, the team reduced estimated facade costs by fifty percent and shortened the construction schedule by approximately one month –benefits that trilled both the architect and the Tribe.
Onsite Support to Guide the Installation
While the installer, Eric Pickens of Bradleigh Applications, Inc, was well-versed in Sto products for years, Sto provided on-site support at the project’s onset to ensure a smooth start.
The installation of the 90,000 square feet of StoTherm ci went smoothly. The 32,000 square feet of StoCast Wood finish, top coated with StoColor Wood Stain Walnut, was applied at all at all three entrances, including the large check-in portico for the hotel. StoCast Wood planks was installed around posts and to the ceiling to imbue a lodge-like quality that was warm and inviting.
“I love working with Sto products! The quality of the products and the on-site support are truly second to none,” commented Eric Pickens.
Branding Through Architectural Detail
As a final touch to the design, the architect wanted to integrate 3-D diamonds over the StoTherm ci finish. Referencing a central motif in the Tribe’s logo, 9,000 square feet of the foam-cut diamonds were finished in Keweenaw Bronze, Bavarian Wheat, and Valencia Orange, with StoColor Metallic added for a reflective, vibrant finish.
A New Casino in a Growing Community
The new Seminole Brighton Bay Hotel & Casino officially opened in February 2025, following a private soft opening for the Tribe. The new facility has already exceeded expectations in both occupancy and revenue.
“The Tribe and the community are extremely happy with the new hotel and casino. Sto products helped us achieve the look we were after, while saving us both time and money. You couldn’t ask for more,” added Goizueta.
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