By Brian Lenartowich, Director of Construction
As the only competitive sailor amongst colleagues at OpenAire, I truly appreciate the extra effort put in by design staff, structural engineers and mechanical engineers who work on our cruise ship projects. Imagine an operable, aluminum and glass roof and wall structure that is subjected to yaw, roll, pitch and planing forces on the high seas.The physical forces sustained by the cruise ship, the effects of the harsh sea and the ambient weather conditions put our designs to the test like no other land-based environment.
OpenAire enclosures are built tough and are made to withstand corrosive salt water and appreciable climatic temperature variations. Our thermally broken aluminum systems are immune to rust and decay.This means they’re always attractive and won’t need repainting—which is especially important for cruise ship passengers immersed in a "floating paradise”.
The OpenAire system is designed to perform flawlessly, as much during "dead-calm seas" and for less than idyllic "cruise-ship-like” weather.Those cruise ship "landlubbers”, without tried and true sea legs, may wish to seek safe passage in an OpenAire structure during a perfect storm. But amidst the wind and rain, I much prefer re-enacting the Kate and Leo pose from Titanic.
OAKVILLE, ON – October 10, 2013 – OpenAire has joined the big leagues for work currently underway to install a retractable roof for Ballpark Village Live!. Ballpark Village Live! is an entertainment complex under construction, adjacent to Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals. It will feature a sports bar, the Cardinals Nation and Budweiser Brew House.
Working in partnership with established developers The Cordish Companies, Openaire has led design, manufacture and installation of the retractable roof covering Ballpark Village Live!. As a major design element of the building, the retractable roof is a double-sloped structure with 12 operable sliding panels, constructed with polycarbonate in the roof section and glass panels in the gable ends. The structure measures 96 feet by 96 feet and soars over 50 feet above ground. The retractable roof will allow Cardinals fans to enjoy Ballpark Village Live! as a year-round gathering place to catch the baseball game in all types of weather.
With its first phase of construction in progress, Ballpark Village Live! will also feature rooftop seating, providing up to 300 guests with a direct view of the baseball game happening in Busch Stadium. For those inside, a 40-foot diagonal LED screen will be housed above a stage, providing Cardinals fans with an immersive, multimedia sports viewing experience in a lively outdoor atmosphere.
"Being brought on board by The Cordish Company for its work with the St. Louis Cardinals continues a partnership based on creative vision, quality and excellence previously achieved with other Live! venues. Cardinals fans can now experience the product of this great partnership at The Ballpark Village Live!,” said Mark Albertine, president of OpenAire.
Ballpark Village is scheduled for completion for the St. Louis Cardinals’ Opening Day 2014. To find out more about Ballpark Village Live, visit http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/stl/ballpark/ballpark_village.jsp
OAKVILLE, ON – August 1, 2013 – The construction of a retractable roof for the Ontario Racquet Club’s (ORC) pool and patio will transform its aquatic facility into a year-round space. As part of its planned multimillion-dollar renovations, OpenAire will design, manufacture and install a retractable roof enclosure to house a new, junior Olympic-size 82’ (25m) pool that’s perfect for any season .A relaxing patio area will accommodate rows of lounge chairs looking onto a children's splash pad,giving way to a crystalline pool with complete indoor and outdoor functionality.
The retractable roof enclosure will feature a curved roof design and will be constructed using advanced polycarbonate materials. Encased in modern glass architecture, the new aquatic centre will measure 62’-4” (18.9m) wide x 114’-0” (34.7m) long and stand 23’ (7.01m) high.
"Our involvement in the Ontario Racquet Club’s multimillion-dollar renovation project is the product of OpenAire’s long-term collaboration with the ORC. Our commitment to executing the creative vision of CEO Jeff McCarrol and his leadership team will elevate the club into a premiere sports destination with world-class facilities. By integrating a retractable roof for its junior Olympic-size pool, the ORC has ensured that its aquatic centre can be enjoyed by individuals and families every day of the year,” said Mark Albertine, president of OpenAire.
Additional amenities for the club include additional locker and change facilities, expanded restaurant and dining facilities, and a new dedicated Pilate’s studio. Since 1975, the ORC has been a leading family health, wellness and sports club in Mississauga, Ontario. With its 150,000 square foot facility set in 8.5 acres of land the revitalized ORC is sure to become the one-stop resort for fun in the Greater Toronto Area.
Renovations to the Ontario Racquet Club are scheduled for completion in fall 2014.
OAKVILLE, ON – July 16, 2013 – Located in Manhattan’s Fashion District, Refinery Hotel is now welcoming guests to its newly opened Rooftop, featuring a retractable roof designed, manufactured and installed by OpenAire. The industrial aesthetic of Refinery Hotel extends onto the Rooftop above, where cocktails can be enjoyed within three distinct lounge spaces: indoor, outdoor and a space ‘in-between’ with an integrated bi-parting skylight.
The retractable glass roof enhances the view of New York’s city sunsets, where guests can take in the cinematic skyline of Manhattan and the Empire State Building, while relaxing with artisanal cocktails or a glass of wine from the bar’s premium wine list.The Rooftop’s retractable roof features:
A lea-to-enclosure with bi-parting roof, measuring 24’-4” x 40’-5”, with a 40’-5” x 12’-5 ½" high front wall
Installation along a 7.72 degree slope
4 dividing roof sections each measuring 10’-0”
Two sections that bi-part up to 50 per cent from the center, moving outward and "parking” over the fixed end bays
"OpenAire’s bi-parting skylight for the Refinery Rooftop adds a complementary touch of luxury to the industrial aesthetic of the building,where innovative design blends in with historic architectural detail. The integration of a retractable roof for the Rooftop adds that unique element that boutique hotel clientele can appreciate and enjoy,” said Mark Albertine, president of OpenAire.
"The Rooftop has a warm industrial aesthetic for which the OpenAire skylight was a perfect complement. Even with the enclosure closed, its transparency transmits a wonderful light. The view through the skylight of the Empire State Building never fails to elicit excitement. With the bar designed for year round- use, we didn’t want a space that would operate at partial capacity for half the year. The massive skylight brings the outside in and vice versa, while sheltering guests from the elements,"said Christina Zimmer, principal at Stonehill & Taylor Architects and Planners.
"Our new and repeat guests at the Refinery Hotel have welcomed and claimed the Rooftop Bar and Lounge as a unique space of their own. The retractable skylight has become a natural focal point of their stay, with evening hours spent unwinding with cocktails, while enjoying unfiltered access to the Manhattan skyline. OpenAire did a tremendous job helping us realize our original vision for the Rooftop, from conception to execution of the finest details,” said Pinky Vaid, owner of Refinery Hotel.
OAKVILLE, ON – June 5, 2013 –As a top vacation stop in the State of Michigan serving up to 19,000 guests weekly, Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth expects to see a boost in visitors with the addition of a newly built waterpark featuring an all-season retractable roof structure. Located in the Bavarian town of Frankenmuth, 90 miles north of Detroit, construction at Zehnder’s new waterpark attraction is scheduled to begin this summer. A key feature of the waterpark’s design is a double slope retractable roof enclosure manufactured and installed by OpenAire.
The integration of a retractable roof will make the Splash Village Indoor Waterpark a year-round facility to complement the Splash Village Hotel. A fully retracted roof in the summertime will provide park guests with fresh breeze and sun, while a closed roof during Michigan winters will create a comfortable, climate-controlled space with abundant natural light.
Details of the planned construction for the new Zehnder’s Splash Village Indoor Waterpark include:
The current Zehnder’s Splash Village Hotel and Indoor Waterpark Enjoy is a 30,000 square foot facility featuring a Splash Landing play area, Dumping Bucket, Giggling Gorge, 4-story tube slide, hot tub and lazy river.With the new waterpark construction starting this summer, OpenAire’s retractable roof installation will commence September 2013.
Toronto, ON — April 18, 2013—On the heels of a successful launch for her newest establishment, Gusto 101 in Toronto’s King West district, restaurateur Janet Zuccarini has reinvented the patio sipping and dining experience with the integration of an all-glass retractable roof for the restaurant’s rooftop patio. As the first of its kind in the city’s dining scene, the retractable roof extends the patio season indefinitely for Toronto diners just beginning to enjoy a spring thaw and outdoor people watching. Gusto 101’s striking overall design garnered the restaurant international acclaim as a winner of this year’s Hospitality Design Award in the casual restaurant category.
Zuccarini, as owner of Trattoria Nervosa in Yorkville, brought along her patio-savvy when it came to visualizing the design for Gusto 101’s rooftop dining area. After discovering a retractable roof at a restaurant patio in New York, she realized that the idea could be implemented in her home city using a locally sourced solution.Just a short car trip down the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) highway, Oakville, Ontario based OpenAire Inc. provided the expertise and technology needed to bring Zuccarini’s vision to life.
"We’re in a bold and creative period in Toronto, with our restaurants now on the international map, not just for food, but for overall experience, including design,” said Zuccarini. "I want to maintain that momentum and keep pushing the boundaries to make the dining experience extraordinary; and Gusto 101’s retractable rooftop creates just that, with a patio season that doesn’t end when the summer does.”
In collaboration with leading interior design firm Munge Leung, OpenAire designed, manufactured and installed a double slope, telescoping skylight measuring 32 feet by 51 feet. The roof has three divided sections, where two sections retract under one fixed section, transforming the second floor from an indoor to an outdoor space in mere minutes. In warm weather amidst breeze, sunshine and the patio roof open, up to 100 diners can sip a glass of house wine from the restaurant’s in-house winery. During fall and winter months, with the roof closed, guests can enjoy a cozy rooftop space under the stars.
"The collaborative process between Munge Leung and OpenAire made for an engaging team dynamic, where our creativity and design direction meshed perfectly with OpenAire’s technical know-how and precision execution,” said managing partner, Alessandro Munge.
"Working with clients like Janet Zuccarini and firms like Munge Leung—both inspired leaders at the top of their game—made OpenAire’s work on Gusto 101 that much more satisfying. Winning a Hospitality Design Award is a wonderful affirmation of the work we achieved together,” said Mark Albertine, president of OpenAire.
With the retractable roof construction initiated October 2012, Gusto 101’s renovated rooftop patio is now completed and open, just in time for a year-round patio season. The award-winning project will be recognized at the ninth annual Hospitality Design Awards on June 5th in New York and will be featured in the June issue of Hospitality Design Magazine. Gusto 101 was selected by a panel of industry professionals from among over 400 global entries.
About OpenAire
OpenAire has been designing and manufacturing beautiful, high-quality, environmentally conscious retractable roof enclosures and skylights for over 20 years. Their commercial projects include the Americana Indoor Water Park in Niagara Falls, Canada, Big Splash Island in French Lick, Indiana, and the Palms Casino & Resort in Las Vegas. By combining your unique vision with OpenAire’s expertise, incredible venues are a reality.
Contact:
Mark Albertine, President
1-800-267-4877
sales@openaire.com
About Janet Zuccarini and Gusto 101
Gusto 101 is owned by long-established restaurateur, Janet Zuccarini, who opened her first restaurant, Trattoria Nervosa in Yorkville, in 1996. Janet’s passion and acute vision for unique dining experiences can be seen through every element of Gusto 101—from the memorable food and wine, to the industrial décor that doesn’t feel cold, but instead, cozy. As Canada’s first female certified pizzaiola, Janet also has credibility in the kitchen. A seasoned traveler, she consistently seeks out the best on the international scene, bringing it back to the benefit of the restaurant experience in her home city, Toronto.
Contact:
Candice Best, BEST PR Boutique
(416) 525-1332
best@bestprboutique.com
About Munge Leung
Munge Leung was established in 1997 by Alessandro Munge (Managing Partner) and Sai Leung (Design Director) with the desire to build a boutique studio that offers dynamic and inspiring design solutions.
Today, Munge Leung is established as an internationally recognized interior design firm specializing in luxury hotels and resorts, high-end residential developments, and iconic food and beverage venues spanning North America, Hong Kong and the Middle East. The firm’s team represents a wide range of perspectives and cultural insights, perfectly suited to its global clientele of preeminent developers, international architects, artisans and leading luxury brands.
Contact:
KasiaChalas, Marketing & Media Relations Manager
kasia@mungeleung.com
www.mungeleung.com
(416) 588-1668
