Frankenmuth Resort Offers 29,000 Square Feet of New Water Park Amusements in Any Weather

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OpenAire Inc., the world’s premier designer, manufacturer and installer of custom retractable roof structures and operable skylights, has completed a new retractable roof structure for Zehnder’s Splash Village Hotel and Water Park in Frankenmuth, MI. The facility encloses 29,000 square feet of aquatic attractions, including a 70-foot high slide tower, and is a new addition to the popular tourist spot.

The resort, situated in the Bavarian Village of Frankenmuth, had offered a 20,000 square foot waterpark that drew thousands of tourists each year. However, the resort grew so popular that there was increased demand for a larger facility that could entertain older audiences.

In a previous statement, Zehnder’s Chairman and CEO Al Zehnder said, “We are very excited about giving our guests double the fun at Splash Village. Nine years ago we opened Splash Village with a 20,000 square foot water park.  The atrium water park is our new 29,000 square foot expansion that includes a retractable roof; an outdoor pool; two, six-story thrill rides; family cabanas and more.” The hotel was also expanded to accommodate even more guests at the year-round waterpark.

The retractable roof structure features a double slope roof measuring 126’x 207’ with sidewalls that are 33’-8” high, making it visible from miles around.  It also encloses a stair tower measuring 34’-o”x78’-7” with an eave height of 70’-0” to accommodate the park’s highest water slide.

“We build retractable roof structures for all types of projects from commercial to residential, but water parks are definitely a favorite,” says Mark Albertine, President and CEO of OpenAire Inc. “Not only do we have the opportunity to be incredibly creative in our designs, but our aluminum framing systems are well-suited to aquatic enclosures. They easily withstand moist, chemical aquatic atmospheres and are essentially maintenance-free.”

Zehnder’s Splash Village Hotel and Waterpark is now the only water park in Michigan to feature a retractable roof. The maintenance-free, aluminum-framed structure with its unique retractable roof allows guests to enjoy an outdoor experience in the sunshine when the weather is warm, while still taking advantage of the waterslides and pools during the cold northern winters.

To learn more about OpenAire Inc.’s over 600 past projects and capabilities, visit https://www.openaire.com/.  For more details on this project, please send an e-mail to sales@openaire.com. OpenAire is currently exhibiting at the Big5 International Building and Construction Show, November 17-21, 2014 at the Dubai World Trade Centre at location 1E17. OpenAire is also exhibiting at IAAPA Attractions Expo at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, USA, November 18-21, at booth #1837.

 

Aluminum Structure Perfectly Suited for the Open Seas

Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas

OpenAire Inc., the world’s premier designer, manufacturer and installer of custom retractable roof enclosures and operable skylights, has completed a new retractable roof structure for the indoor pool on Royal Caribbean International’s latest ship, Quantum of the Seas.

The ship, dubbed the “world’s first SmartShip” by Royal Caribbean, features stunning new innovations in hospitality and technology. The 167,800-tonne ship was built by Meyer Werft in Germany and features new attractions including 18 restaurants, indoor skydiving and bumper cars. Early reviews of the cruise ship have been enthusiastic raves.

OpenAire designed, manufactured and constructed two sleek and modern lean-to enclosures on either side of the indoor pool, allowing the aquatic area to be open to the bright sunshine and fresh air of the open seas, but to close quickly and quietly in the event of cold, wind or precipitation. Each enclosure measures 36’ x 103’ with a 14’ high front wall, and a vertical glass end, and features a roof with multiple glass panels that retract from the eave and stack at the top of the enclosure.  The vertical walls consist of multiple glass panels that slide down from the top and stack at the bottom of the wall.  With 75 percent of the roof open and 67 percent of the wall, this is truly an open air pool.

“In the beginning, this high-end, customized project challenged our team on almost every aspect because of its irregular shape, the way that the customer wanted it to operate, the non-land based support and the construction method,” says William Yu, Director of Engineering of OpenAire. “Throughout the project’s life, our team proved once again that we can deliver the mechanically functional, structurally sound and architecturally pleasing end results our customers expect, leading to 100 percent customer satisfaction.”

The custom-designed structure is constructed of extruded aluminum profiles made of structural alloy 6061 T6. The thermally broken, all-aluminum framing is maintenance-free, resistant to corrosion caused by salt air and caustic chloramines. Apart from its durability, aluminum appealed to Royal Caribbean because it is lighter weight than traditional steel, therefore contributing less to overall weight of the ship and resulting energy use.

“While it’s hard to stand out on a ship that features robotic bartenders, bumper cars and roller skating, Quantum of the Seas is a highlight in our portfolio of work,” says Mark Albertine, President and CEO of OpenAire Inc. “We’re proud to have worked with Meyer Werft to build this amazing enclosure, and we are pleased to announce that our structures will feature on the next three Royal Caribbean ships, including the Anthem of the Seas and the Ovation of the Seas.”

To learn more about OpenAire Inc.’s over 600 past projects and capabilities, visit https://www.openaire.com/.  For more details on this project, please send an e-mail to sales@openaire.com. OpenAire is currently exhibiting at the Big5 International Building and Construction Show, November 17-21, 2014 at the Dubai World Trade Centre at location 1E17. OpenAire is also exhibiting at IAAPA Attractions Expo at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, USA, November 18-21, at booth #1837.

New, high-profile projects punctuate Ontario company’s silver anniversary year

OAKVILLE, ONTARIO (PRWeb – October 28, 2014) – OpenAire Inc., the world’s premier designer, manufacturer and installer of custom retractable roof enclosures and operable skylights, is approaching the quarter-century mark. The company is entering its 25th year with a number of high-profile retractable roof projects in the works, including an atrium-style roof for a popular Michigan waterpark, a stylish enclosure for the Junior Olympic-sized pool at the Ontario Racquet Club, and sleek aquatic covering for a luxury cruise ship.

These current projects compliment a portfolio of custom-designed enclosures that includes such high profile projects as the world’s largest retractable aluminum-domed indoor water park, Aqua Sferra in Donetsk, Ukraine; the rooftop bar at the Refinery Hotel in New York City; The Pump House water park at Jay Peak Resort in Vermont; Fox Sports Midwest LIVE! at Ballpark Village in St. Louis, MO; The Americana Indoor Water Park in Niagara Falls, Canada; Joe’s American Bar & Grill in Boston, MA and more than 500 additional projects worldwide.

These projects all exemplify what this Canadian-based manufacturer set out to do 25 years ago. They are all venues that have “added sky” through the introduction of an OpenAire custom skylight or retractable roof enclosure, allowing visitors to enjoy the sun, moon and stars, no matter what the outside temperature.

While OpenAire is a global organization today, the idea for the company grew from the entrepreneurial vision of Mark Albertine, who saw an opportunity in a market that was dominated by large fixed skylight companies. Albertine had a dream and a simple idea – to make high-end retractable roofs and operable skylights fit for all four of Canada’s distinctive seasons.

OpenAire’s dream has become a reality - a reality that is helping tourist attractions like waterparks to increase footfall, and restaurants and other attractions with outdoor spaces to increase seating capacity year-round. Current notable projects include:

Such high-profile projects have made Mr. Albertine very optimistic about OpenAire’s next 25 years. “We’re continually being asked to quote for larger and more unique projects, in regions experiencing construction booms, such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and China,” he speculates. “We’ve proven our flexibility in working across industries – be it health and community centers, waterparks, shopping centres, restaurants, or hotels. Pair this with our experience designing, building and installing our no-maintenance structures internationally, and it’s not hard to see why OpenAire has become an attractive option for any company, regardless of the country or industry they operate within.”

To learn more about OpenAire Inc’s past projects and capabilities, visit https://www.openaire.com/.  To schedule time at one of these events or arrange an interview with one of their executives, please send an e-mail to sales@openaire.com. OpenAire is currently exhibiting at the WWA Annual Symposium and Trade Show at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas at booth #1100-1102.

About OpenAire

 
OpenAire has been designing and manufacturing beautiful, high-quality, environmentally conscious retractable roof enclosures and skylights for over 25 years. We bring unique visions to life from initial design to installation, transforming buildings into sunlit spaces customers love. Our commercial projects include the Americana Indoor Water Park in Niagara Falls, Canada; Aqua Sferra water park in Donetsk, Ukraine; Aqua Park in Baku, Azerbaijan; the Rooftop Bar at the Refinery Hotel in New York City, and the Palms Casino & Resort in Las Vegas.

 

Headquartered in Oakville, Ontario, OpenAire has worked throughout North America, Europe and the Middle East. Learn more at https://www.openaire.com.

 

 

 

It's been a long time coming... and it's finally here! Zehnder's Splash Village - featuring a brand-spanking-new OpenAire retractable roof - will be opening just in time for Halloween! Sounds like a pretty amazing treat for the kids in Frankenmuth, MI.

Read the update on the Zehnder's blog.

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The water park at Zehnders is coming along. Feast your eyes on this beautiful shot of the enclosure at sunset.

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The expansion of Zehnder's Water Park continues! We've posted some new photos to share the progress with you.

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Click the images to see them full sized - and learn more at the Zehnder's website.

At the opening of Ballpark Village in St. Louis, the roof over FOX Sports Midwest Live! was opened to give attendees the true OpenAire experience! Learn more about this project.

Leader in retractable roofs and large-span skylights joins industry leaders for International Construction Technology & Building Materials Exhibition

OAKVILLE, ONTARIO--(PRWeb - April 23, 2014) -For the second year in a row from May 12th to 15th, OpenAire, the global leader for designing, manufacturing and installing elegant and sophisticated retractable roofs and large-span skylights, will be exhibiting at Project Qatar: The International Construction Technology & Building Materials Exhibition. The company joins other Canadian construction industry leaders as part of the show’s Canadian Pavilion, occupying Booth # E197.
Now in its 11th iteration, Project Qatar is held in Doha, Qatar. This year the event moves to the Qatar National Convention Centre from its previous home for the last decade at Doha Exhibition Center. The event attracts key buyers and industry trendsetters looking for the most up-to-date technology and state-of-the art equipment available on the market.
"We are happy to be returning to Project Qatar, where we’re right at home doing business with our Middle East clients and prospects. In fact, we’re currently under contract to build the largest aluminum and glass dome over a shopping mall in the United Arab Emirates,” said Mark Albertine, president of OpenAire. "We look forward to seeing the global construction industry’s latest and greatest innovations, while displaying some of our own recent projects.”
Project Qatar brings together buyers and suppliers from around the world to collaborate and exchange leading ideas behind Qatar’s multi-billion construction sector. The exhibition hosts 2,100 local and international exhibitors from 50 countries, spread across 62,000m2 of indoor and outdoor exhibition space. Every year, the show sees over 45,000 visitors and features more than 20 national pavilions.
About OpenAire
OpenAire has been designing and manufacturing beautiful, high-quality, environmentally conscious retractable roof enclosures and skylights for over 25 years. We bring unique visions to life from initial design to installation, transforming buildings into sunlit spaces customers love. Our commercial projects include the Americana Indoor Water Park in Niagara Falls, Canada; Aqua Sferra water park in Donetsk, Ukraine; Aqua Park in Baku, Azerbaijan; the Rooftop Bar at the Refinery Hotel in New York City, and the Palms Casino & Resort in Las Vegas.
Headquartered in Oakville, Ontario, OpenAire has worked throughout North America, Europe and the Middle East. Learn more at https://www.openaire.com.

OAKVILLE, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 27, 2014) - With Major League Baseball's opening day fast approaching, St. Louis Cardinals' fans will have a weatherproof way of experiencing the game by enjoying the 2014 baseball season under the new retractable roof featured in St. Louis' Ballpark Village, located across the street from Busch Stadium. Working in partnership with the Cardinals organization and developers The Cordish Companies, OpenAire designed, manufactured and installed the retractable roof covering FOX Sports Midwest Live. This 20,000 square foot entertainment marketplace features a sports bar, Cardinals Nation, Budweiser Brew House and a 40-foot diagonal LED screen. Ballpark Village is slated to open March 27, 2014.

For this central gathering place and plaza, OpenAire created a double-sloped retractable roof with 12 operable sliding panels, which open at the touch of a button. The panels are 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 high. The retractable roof will allow Cardinals' fans to catch the baseball game regardless of inclement weather, from the early spring until the Fall Classic.

Another anchor to the Village, the Budweiser Brew House, also features an OpenAire roof covering its outdoor beer garden. The beer garden structure, designed with architectural features that complement the aesthetics of the new facility, measures 32' x 44' and is supported with 12' high columns. This will allow fans to enjoy their brew al fresco, rain or shine, in an environment that will resonate with the sights, sounds and energy of the adjacent ballpark.

"Opening day is nearly here and OpenAire is excited that Cardinals' fans will be able to experience the timeless game of baseball in a new way, under our soaring retractable roof. We are proud to continue our success working with The Cordish Companies and their popular Live! venues by bringing the retractable roof experience to St. Louis," said Mark Albertine, president of OpenAire.

The $100 million first phase of Ballpark Village will open its doors to the public for the first time today, Thursday, March 27th, with an opening ceremony, followed by a VIP party and a free concert for the public within FOX Sports Midwest Live! featuring national recording artist Third Eye Blind. Doors open to the public at 9pm.

All venues will open for business following the Grand Opening on March 27th, with various individual grand opening celebrations planned at each venue. A full listing of the schedule is available here.

To learn more about Ballpark Village Live, visit http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/stl/ballpark/ballpark_village.jsp

Designer and Manufacturer of Retractable Roofs and Large-Span Skylights Will Showcase Green Technologies at Expo Build 2014 in Shanghai

OAKVILLE, ON – March 17, 2014 – OpenAire Inc., the world’s premier designer, manufacturer and installer of custom retractable roof enclosures and operable skylights, will be traveling to China as part of the Ontario Construction Products Mission later this month.At the invitation of the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service and the Ontario International Marketing Centres in China, OpenAire will join a select group of eight Ontario-based companies with leading technology to participate in this year’s Ontario pavilion at Expo Build 2014 in the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) in China.

As part of this trade mission, OpenAire president Mark Albertine will explore market opportunities and business partnerships among China’s key decision-makers, presenting how OpenAire’senergy efficient retractable roofs and large-span operable skylights can be integrated intoshopping/retail, waterparks and community facilities. As a representative for the province’s green building sector, Albertinewill highlight Ontario’s expertise and innovation in clean technology by participating in seminars, one-on-one meetings, networking events and site visits.OpenAire structures contribute points for both LEED for New Construction and LEED for Core and Shell rating systems.

"It is an honour to once again be invited as member-delegate for Ontario’s trade mission to China,”Albertine said. "It’s a great opportunity to meet with Chinese industry leaders who welcome small to medium size Canadian enterprises like OpenAireinto their market with open arms."

Ontario’s trade mission to China will takeplace from March 24 to April 3, 2014. Expo Build China is a leading exhibition for premium building materials. China is the world's largest producer and consumer of building materials as well as a key new market for sustainable building. Expo Build will showcase the full range of the construction industry to 400 exhibitors and 40,000 visitors. China is Ontario’s and Canada’s second-largest trading partner in the world.

About OpenAire Inc.
OpenAirehas been designing and manufacturing beautiful, high-quality, environmentally conscious retractable roof enclosures and skylights for over 20 years. We bring unique visions to life from initial design to installation, transforming buildings into sunlit spaces customers love.Our commercial projects include the Americana Indoor Water Park in Niagara Falls, Canada;the Rooftop Bar at the Refinery Hotel in New York City, and the Palms Casino & Resort in Las Vegas.

Headquartered in Oakville, Ontario, OpenAire has worked throughout North America, Europe and the Middle East. Learn more at www.openaire.com. Learn more about OpenAire and LEED at https://www.openaire.com/LEED.aspx.

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