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HKA5 staff members Nathan Moyer, Sean O'Brien, Christopher Reeve, Krista Best, Anthony Gallucci and James Petro at the grand opening of Resorts World New York City. PHOTO/ALLOY5
Allentown architecture firm helps design NYC’s first live-dealer casino
Stacy Wescoe//May 1, 2026//
Listen to this articleA Lehigh Valley architecture firm had a hand in this week’s opening of New York City’s first live-dealer casino.
HKA5, an entity of Alloy5 LLC, designed 310,000 square feet of gaming and support space at Resorts World New York City.
The casino is located next to Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens where Resorts World.
It had been operating under a slots license since 2011.
This project added 200 live table games, including blackjack, baccarat, craps and roulette.
More than $500 million has been invested in construction so far, with another $2.8 billion on the way. The expansion is expected to create 1,250 new jobs.
“From the beginning, HKA5 understood the pressure to open quickly,” Alloy5 President Michael Metzger said. “We built our design strategy around that need.”
The casino’s opening comes within five months of receiving its license, giving Resorts World a market advantage over the two other live dealer license winners.
HKA5 said it divided design of the overall casino into more than 50 projects, allowing staff to focus on prioritized elements and ensure smooth permit approval. This strategy also helped pivot design as the project continued to evolve.
Design included the gaming floor, sportsbook, bar, private gaming lounge, hotel hospitality suites, offices, player development and lobby as well as support spaces like bathrooms, employee lounge, count room, cages, slot repair room, security features, escalator and elevator.
