VANCOUVER-Las Vegas-based Paragon Development recently hiredIBI/HB Architects and the Rockwell Group to help design its $450million casino complex here. The company hopes to start next yearon the project, which will be attached to BC Palace, the60,000-seat downtown stadium.

The company already owns the Edgewater Casino downtown, whichthe firm purchased in September 2006. Though the company stilladvertises on its Web site that it wants to make Edgewater “thepremier entertainment destination in the Greater Vancouver area,”the company will reportedly close Edgewater once the new projectopens in 2013. Paragon also owns the River Cree Resort casinooutside of Edmonton, Alberta and Eagle River Casino in Alberta.

The project is to include 620 rooms in two hotels, fiverestaurants and more than 100,000 square feet of gaming space,according to a Paragon statement. A company official did not returna phone call for this story.