The New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) and New Jersey Business magazine, recently honored Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City, with a 2006 New Good Neighbor Award for its new addition, The Quarter.

NJBIA President Philip Kirschner presented the award to Bunny Loper-Rixey, senior project officer for the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, at the 46th Annual New Good Neighbor Awards luncheon, held June 2 at the

Sheraton at Woodbridge Place in Iselin.

“The Quarter brings Caribbean charm to Atlantic City with a design that takes its inspiration from the Havanna of old—sultry, sophisticated and pulsing with Latin rhythms,” Kirschner said.  “This welcome addition will help spice up Atlantic City’s dining and nightlife.”

The Quarter has 200,000 square feet of world class restaurants, retail shops and live music venues.  It includes restaurants like The Palm, Cuba Libre, Carmine’s, Red Square and P.F. Chang’s, as well as nightclubs such as the Sound of Philadelphia and the Comedy Stops.  The roster of retail shops includes Tahari, Chico’s, White House/Black Market and Zinman Furs. 

Architecturally, The Quarter celebrates Havana with cobblestone streets, palm trees, turn-of-the-century lanterns, balconies, tiled rooftops and open sky that makes visitors feel they are part of a continuous sunset – all in a vast indoor setting.  It also offers 45,000 square feet of conference space (with over 20 separate meeting rooms, hospitality suites and a fully-equipped business center) and 502 guestrooms in the Havana Tower.

This $250-million project, which supported 1,700 construction jobs and now provides 1,100 full-time jobs, translates into $35 million in annual wages, $15 million in annual state taxes, $9 million in annual Atlantic City taxes and $2 million in reinvestment and parking fees. 

The Quarter was designed by WATG Architects, Inc. of Newport Beach, California and SOSH Architects of  Atlantic City.  Keating Building Corporation of Philadelphia handled the construction.  Yvonne Doggett, deputy director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, nominated the project.

The New Good Neighbor Awards Luncheon annually brings together a dynamic group of builders, architects, engineers and others in the development community to honor those responsible for the State’s most impressive new commercial construction and renovation projects. An independent panel of 23 judges selected the 12 winners based on economic impact, architectural merit and community involvement.   In all, 29 applications representing more than $600 million in construction costs and 7,000 jobs were submitted.

With more than 23,500 members, NJBIA is the nation’s largest state-level employers association.  New Jersey Business magazine is NJBIA’s flagship publication.