hotel rooms and restaurants began immediately. The Hard Rock remained open during the renovation project. NRFC HRH, an entity of NorthStar Realty Finance Corporation, provided $100 million as part of a $1.36 billion loan that was used to finance the 2007 purchase and the subsequent renovation and expansion. New York architect Mark Zeff designed the property's existing and future facilities. Zeff wanted to give the resort an "elegant, young vibe." A renovation of the hotel's 64 suites, located on the hotel's 11th floor, began in June 2007. Zeff had four different redesigns which were implemented into the suites as a way of gauging how customers react to them, ahead of construction for the new hotel towers. The new towers were intended to target boutique hotel customers who visit the Hard Rock but may stay at more upscale hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. The Hard Rock performed better than expected in the first full quarter of its new ownership. As part of the expansion, the Paradise Bay Club apartments would be closed and demolished. The apartments would be replaced by new parking for employees and guests, and the land would also serve as a temporary staging area for construction. The expansion would ultimately utilize only 8 of the 23 acres, and the remaining acreage would be left vacant with the future possibility of development. Meanwhile, the parking lot located in front of the resort along Paradise Road would be replaced by of convention and meeting space, as well as the new and enlarged Joint. The original Joint, capable of holding 2,000 people during concerts, would be opened up to make room for of new casino space, for a new total of . The new Joint was built on what used to be 300 parking spaces. The Paradise Bay Club apartments were closed in July 2007, and demolition was underway the following month. A groundbreaking ceremony had been planned for August 7, 2007, but was postponed as hotel officials wanted to wait a few months for a backdrop that would be more photogenic. In addition to a parking garage, the former apartment land would also be used for the new hotel towers. Morgans was licensed to operate the casino in January 2008, ending its agreement with Golden Gaming. Renovations on the upper-floor suites were finished, while lower-floor suites were in the process of being upgraded. The resort initially performed well, despite