NEWS: OpenAire to build indoor waterpark at Jay Peak Vermont

[jedimaster1227]

http://www.blooloop.com/PressReleases/OpenAire-to-build-indoor-waterpark-with-retractable-roof-at-Jay-Peak-Vermont-/2196

 

Vermont’s Jay Peak ski resort will soon be the site of an exciting landmark – the resort will be adding a waterpark with an aluminum framed enclosure and retractable roof.

 

Designed and built by Oakville-based OpenAire Inc, the new attraction will be the largest that OpenAire has built in North America, and an important part of transforming Jay Peak into a year-round vacation destination.

 

Jay Peak Resort opened in the 1950’s, and in the years since has made continuous and numerous expansions to the skiing and riding trails. Jay Peak is now embarking on a major expansion that will bring luxurious new lodging options and an array of four-season activities – and the new water park will play an important role in that transformation.

 

The Jay Peak water park enclosure is the tallest that OpenAire has built in North America. Measuring 140’ wide and 280’ long and 43’ high at the sidewalls, it adds up to over 40,000 square feet. The design also includes a curved cupola at the apex that allows for a 55’ high slide tower. Plus, the structure can handle 80 lbs. per square foot of snow load, which is a vital design feature for Jay Peak, located in a region of the US with a higher snowfall than some Rocky Mountain ski resorts.

 

OpenAire’s retractable roof has a number of eco-friendly benefits, all of which offer energy and dollar savings in comparison with traditionally built waterparks:

 

* When the weather is warm enough to retract the roof, fresh air naturally floods the building, with the interior humidity being exhausted through the open roof. This means mechanical systems that typically control the atmosphere aren’t required when the roof is open, resulting in tremendous energy savings.

 

* The enclosure, with its polycarbonate roof and insulated glass sides, lets in plenty of sunlight, which saves money on lighting. “Even on the darkest, cloudiest days, we don’t have lights on,” says Mark Albertine, president of OpenAire. “We only turn them on when the sun goes down, and that translates to huge energy savings.”

 

* The building’s frame is all aluminum and is 100% recyclable, so construction leaves a smaller carbon footprint.

 

Black River Design of Montpelier, Vermont is the architect and DEW Construction Corp. of Williston, Vermont is the general contractor for the Jay Peak expansion. Says Albertine, “We met up with Black River and DEW at an IAAPA seminar where OpenAire’s work was being presented as an example of how to build a water park. They were very excited about the retractable roof capability, and also the green attributes of the design.”

 

“OpenAire has overcome significant engineering challenges to design and build the Jay Peak park,” says Albertine. “We have addressed size constraints, snow loads, accommodated a hotel, and faced numerous design issues to arrive at an exciting first for our company – and for the industry!”

 

The waterpark will open in fall 2011. View the computer animation of the waterpark at http://www.openaire.com/video/jaypeak-waterpark/

 

[coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=JayPeak3wma_olri[/coastertube]

[Moose]

I think is a really great idea. A few of the mountains in New England have water parks and golf courses to give them a second season. Putting the water park indoors would give them a second attraction all year long.