Raising the Bar: How Glass, Light, and Design Shape Mystic Lake's New Hop House

Raising the Bar: How Glass, Light, and Design Shape Mystic Lake's New Hop House w l hall company 1
A New Kind of Gathering Place. 

Step inside Hop House, grand opening August 7, 2025, at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, and you'll find more than just a sports bar. It's a two-level destination where craft beer, comfort food, and live entertainment meet bold design & luminous detail.

The project was brought to life through our collaboration with Shea Design (Minneapolis) and Adolfson & Peterson Construction (Minneapolis), and key specialty partners, blending vision, craftsmanship, and execution into a seamless hospitality experience.

The Design Challenge

The vision for Hop House was to create a vibrant, energetic atmosphere that would stand apart from traditional sports bars. The challenge was finding a way to weave together functional bar systems, bold lighting, and architectural finishes—without losing design cohesion or overwhelming the guest experience.

Our Solution: Glass, Glow, and Unique Design Concepts

We and our valued partners combined imaginative design thinking with technical precision to craft solutions that make the Hop House atmosphere both inviting and unforgettable. Every detail—down to custom-fitted glass inserts and carefully engineered lighting—was designed to transform glass into an active player in the experience.

Raising the Bar: How Glass, Light, and Design Shape Mystic Lake's New Hop House w l hall company 7

Behind the Bar: Glass That Glows

On the main-floor bar, we blended forward-thinking design with technical execution to make the bar the focal point of the space.

Design Highlights

Suspended Bar & Bottle Shelves

Working closely with Shea and Adolfson & Peterson, we engineered glass inserts that seamlessly fit within complex steel bar structures. The shelves, crafted from 5/16" low-iron laminate glass with a white interlayer from Pulp Studio, glow from below. Film added to suspended shelves created a warm, reddish ambiance, while bottle shelving retained a crisp, clean glow.

Custom Back Bar Wall

Supplied by Minneapolis Glass, the mirrored back wall features multiple mirror panels framed in ¼" steel bar, forming a bold architectural grid around two large-screen TVs.

Art Glass Accent

Laminate art glass with a 2" grid pattern from GlassArt Design introduced depth and sophistication, adding another layer of refinement.

Raising the Bar: How Glass, Light, and Design Shape Mystic Lake's New Hop House w l hall company 5

Lighting Up the Experience: Kalwall Innovation

Another design challenge was how to make the guest journey immersive from the very first step inside. Our solution was a creative application of Kalwall translucent panels—used in ways we had never applied before.

Entrance: 1-inch Kalwall panels create a bold illuminated welcome.

VIP Sections & Exterior Signage: 1.75-inch Kalwall panels were installed behind mezzanine VIP areas and signage, producing a soft, exclusive glow.

Known for their museum-quality light diffusion, Kalwall panels offered a glare-free radiance that amplified branding while elevating the overall guest experience.

Raising the Bar: How Glass, Light, and Design Shape Mystic Lake's New Hop House w l hall company 3

The Result

By solving the challenge of blending bold design with practical function, we created a glowing, energetic environment that embodies the spirit of Hop House. Glass, light, and design work together to craft a space that is as memorable as it is functional—setting a new standard for casino hospitality.

Raising the Bar: How Glass, Light, and Design Shape Mystic Lake's New Hop House w l hall company 2

Choose W. L. Hall Company for unique and creative design solutions that will elevate your vision and bring your project to life.


No-Cost Consultations

๏ปฟ

W. L. Hall Company

The Premier Exterior and Interior Building Systems Provider in the Upper Midwest

75 Years' Experience | 15,000+ Projects

(952) 937-8400

wlhall.com

sales@wlhall.com

Boston Scientific's Maple Grove Expansion – Supported by W. L. Hall Company Solutions

By Ira Hackner • September 12, 2025
Boston Scientific's Maple Grove Expansion – Supported by W. L. Hall Company Solutions

Zero-Post Corners Bring Flexibility and Impact to Hornig's New Headquarters Conference Room

By Ira Hackner • September 2, 2025
When Hornig Companies set out to build their new headquarters in St. Louis Park, Tanek Architects (Minneapolis) and Gardner Builders (Minneapolis) designed a conference room that could do it all—flexibility, acoustics, and aesthetics.

McKEON AirShield™ Model AL3014 – Smart Air & Climate Control

By Ira Hackner • August 21, 2025
Think of the McKEON AirShield™ AL3014 as more than just a door—it’s a precision-engineered barrier designed to keep comfort in and unwanted air out. This high-performance overhead coiling system is built for environments where air matters most: from busy industrial facilities to sensitive institutional spaces. ๆ‰‡๐ŸŒฌ๏ธ Superior Air Control – Keeps interior climates stable by minimizing air infiltration and exfiltration ๐Ÿ’ก Energy Efficiency – Helps cut heating and cooling costs while meeting today’s strict energy standards ๐Ÿ›  Durability You Can Trust – Engineered to perform reliably in the toughest conditions The result? Protected interiors, better comfort, and a door system that works as hard as you do.

Breaking the Ice: Tackling Winter Construction Challenges for the Bloomingtonโ€ฏPortโ€ฏAuthority/SICK,โ€ฏInc. Parking Ramp

By Ira Hackner • July 25, 2025
Our role in the construction of the Bloomington Parking Ramp involved supplying and installing the EFCO 5600E curtainwall system on the stair towers. ๏ปฟ Construction during the winter months often brings unique challenges to a project. That's why close collaboration with our valued partners—Clow Berg Architects (Minneapolis) and Ancoats Construction Management (Minneapolis)—was essential to identifying potential issues early and navigating them successfully as a team.

Longevity of Kalwall Translucent Panel Skylights: Proven Performance, Designed for Decades

By Ira Hackner • July 18, 2025
Longevity of Kalwall Translucent Panel Skylights: Proven Performance, Designed for Decades

Lower Risk, Higher Standards: W. L. Hall Company's 2025 MOD Rate Shines

By Ira Hackner • July 3, 2025
Safety may not always be the flashiest topic, but in construction, it’s one of the most critical. At W. L. Hall Company, we’re excited to announce that our 2025 MOD rate is at an impressive 0.65—thanks to the unwavering focus of our Safety Team and the exceptional care and professionalism of our Ironworkers, Carpenters, and Glaziers. It’s a standout accomplishment that reflects our industry-leading commitment to jobsite safety.

Maximizing design and function at UnitedHealth Group’s Optum campus.

By Ira Hackner • June 30, 2025
Operable walls have transformed from functional dividers into aesthetic enhancers of the built environment. On this recent project, we helped the architect balance the need for space flexibility with the desire for the look of a more "permanent" solution. Glass panels with false muntins offer the best of both worlds— the look of a fixed demountable system with the flexibility of operable wall systems.

Illuminating Southdale Center’s $400M Luxury Wing with W&W Glass Systems

By Ira Hackner • June 23, 2025
As part of Southdale Center’s $400 million luxury renovation, Simon Property Group (Indianapolis) reached out to us to help bring their bold architectural vision to life. We collaborated with W&W Glass Systems (New York) to deliver and install a stunning array of structural glass solutions that elevate the experience in the new luxury wing.

Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center's (Duluth) new high-performance façade system at the Level 6 - Inpatient Entrance.

By Ira Hackner • June 6, 2025
Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center's (Duluth) new high-performance façade system at the Level 6 - Inpatient Entrance.

A Brighter Future for West Minnehaha Recreation Center

By Ira Hackner • June 6, 2025
A Brighter Future for West Minnehaha Recreation Center