Benjamin T. Downing

Office:

New Haven

Credential:

Title:

Managing Principal

For over 30 years, Benjamin T. Downing, PE, has made an indelible mark on the gaming industry through the development of innovative approaches to the design and project delivery of structures for high-profile gaming, hospitality, and entertainment projects, from mid-size casinos to megaresorts.

These range from the over 4,000,000 SF Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in Connecticut early in his career to the over 6,000,000 SF Resorts World New York City Casino & Resort currently in its next phase of expansion with 1,600 hotel rooms, expanded gaming and entertainment, and arena.

As a co-leader of DeSimone’s Gaming & Hospitality practice, Ben has guided and advised expert structural engineering teams in highly successful collaborations with some of the industry’s top gaming developers—including Hard Rock International, Resorts World, Ceasar’s Entertainment, the Mohegan Tribe Gaming Authority, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, MGM, Rivers Casinos, Penn Gaming, Choctaw Nation, Bally’s, Foxwoods, Tohono Oodham Tribe, and more—effectively delivering billions of dollars in value of exceptional gaming facilities, and building client relationships that have endured for decades over multiple projects. He has been a trusted advisor and skillful engineering expert working alongside his colleagues and world-class architects.

His leadership across engineering teams, creative engineering skill, and nuanced knowledge of how to optimize, expedite, and deliver customized, hybrid steel-and-concrete structures for the industry has helped earn DeSimone its place as the top structural engineering firm for gaming facilities—and foremost expert in the design of guitar-shaped tower structures.

Currently, Ben leads the structural design team for Harborside 8 and 900 Garfield.