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Global entertainment design firm WATG acquires SOSH Architects

Designers

Global entertainment design firm WATG acquires SOSH Architects

The two firms will combine to provide design for the hospitality, entertainment, and gaming sectors.


By Quinn Purcell, Managing Editor | October 1, 2024
Black Rock Casino, Kazakhstan
Black Rock Casino, Kazakhstan, designed by SOSH. Photo courtesy WATG

Entertainment design firm WATG has acquired SOSH Architects, an interior design and planning firm based in Atlantic City, N.J. The former SOSH office will now begin operating as the ninth regional office in WATG’s global framework.

Both firms are known for specializing in architecture and interior design for the hospitality and entertainment sectors. SOSH has received acclaim for its role in the gaming industry, namely casino and hotel design, through several notable partnerships: Hard Rock International, Caesars Entertainment, Ocean Casino Resort, and Bally's Corp., to name a few.

Growth of Entertainment Design Firm WATG

“SOSH has been recognized as a leader in gaming industry design, and WATG the leader in hospitality,” said David Moore, Chief Executive Officer, WATG. “As we come together, we’re excited by the opportunity to elevate our offering to our clients, helping them to differentiate, grow and succeed.”

01_SOSH-Hard Rock Casino-Northern Indiana-Exterior
Hard Rock Casino, Gary, Ind., exterior design by SOSH. Photo courtesy WATG

This news comes off the heels of WATG's expansion into the south central region of the U.S. with a new office in Dallas, Texas. With the addition of SOSH's Atlantic City office, the firm now holds space in Honolulu, Hawaii, Los Angeles, Calif., Tustin, Calif., Dallas, Texas., New York, N.Y., London, Singapore, and Shanghai.

The acquisition will expand WATG's reach of gaming and entertainment services, supplementing the firm's presence in hospitality, senior living, luxury multifamily, and mixed-use developments. Demand for casinos have grown; the global casino hotel industry held a market worth $191 billion in 2022—around 36% of the global gaming market altogether.

“We’re proud to come together now and look forward to the opportunity to work as a collaborative, multidisciplinary team, sharing our expertise in the gaming industry and gaining from WATG’s elite and global presence,” said Tom Sykes, Founding Principal, SOSH.


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