WaTiki Waterpark, Kalahari, and Royal Caribbean are among the companies that have chosen OpenAire for multiple retractable installations
In 2005, the owners of Liv Hospitality in Rapid City, South Dakota saw an opportunity to create a year-round resort that would draw tourists visiting nearby attractions such as Mount Rushmore so they created the WaTiki Indoor Waterpark, an all-seasons family aquatic destination. To ensure their park could stay open all year and still provide a sunlit, outdoor atmosphere, WaTiki turned to leading specialist OpenAire, who designed and built a 19,500 square-foot double-sloped retractable roof enclosure. This vibrant, dynamic atmosphere amazed guests and WaTiki quickly became a great success, drawing many tourists thanks to its great design and prime location.
The initial enclosure was such a hit that in 2010 WaTiki called on OpenAire once again, this time to add an operable enclosure to their restaurant, Slider’s Bar & Grill. The addition fit seamlessly with the rest of the park (a waterslide even passes through the bar area). Just a few years later in 2015, WaTiki returned to OpenAire again to build a 2,400 square foot addition to its original enclosure for extra seating. This beautiful, retractable enclosure was completed this year and is sure to be a hit with the park’s many visitors. The power and reliability of OpenAire’s work has been proven in WaTiki’s rapidly expanding business and the popularity of its unique operable enclosures. WaTiki’s management has learned that they can depend on the OpenAire team to make their visions for the park a reality.
WaTiki is not the only business that has returned to work with OpenAire after a successful partnership; OpenAire earns repeat clients frequently with its functional and breathtaking structures. From the North American Kalahari Resorts and Waterparks to the world-renowned Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines to popular local venues such as the Crooked Cue Pool Hall in Toronto, many companies have invited OpenAire back for multiple projects.
Kalahari first partnered with OpenAire in 2014 to create a system of expansive skylights and enclosures for the 100,000 square foot Phase I of its Pocono Mountains resort in Pennsylvania. Guests and management alike were in awe of the new space’s open environment that provides brightly lit, naturally ventilated outdoor park space in any conditions. This impressive result led Kalahari to partner with OpenAire again for Phase II of the park’s expansion. This addition will grow the park to 200,000 square feet, making it the largest indoor waterpark under one roof in the United States.
OpenAire has also earned a strong reputation with Royal Caribbean, providing an innovative structural solution to enclose the top-deck swimming pools on the company’s Quantum series of cruise liners. Beginning with the Quantum of the Seas in 2013, followed with Anthem of the Seas in 2014 and Ovation of the Seas in 2015, OpenAire’s engineers developed two 30’ x 100’ lean-to enclosure designs whose roof and sidewalls can retract and open seamlessly to expose the pool to the sun and sea breezes of the open ocean. These thermally broken aluminum enclosures resist corrosion from pool chemicals and salty sea air. The success of Quantum has led Royal Caribbean to commission similar enclosures for a fourth ship in the series, which OpenAire is working on currently.
OpenAire is not limited to large-scale projects; in Toronto, the company partnered with the family-owned restaurant and pool hall The Crooked Cue to create a beautiful second-floor 20’ x 48’ opening skylight. This skylight retracts completely off the opening and parks over the adjacent roof, allowing guests to enjoy great food and drink in an outdoor environment, and actually with skylight being all glass, any time of year. The location was closed for only 45 days, and when it reopened, the newly renovated restaurant and pool hall doubled its business, at one point attracting as many guests in a week as it had in one month the previous year. The Crooked Cue’s owner was able to pay off the investment in the structure very quickly. As a result, this year The Crooked Cue asked OpenAire to replicate the retractable roof for the other half of the pub, which is sure to bring in even more guests year-round.
OpenAire is a company dedicated to quality, solution-based designs. Our engineering and design teams focus on building the best, most enduring structures to fit clients’ needs. We aim to build lasting relationships with our clients and build partners and are always ready to provide support, anywhere in the world. With this commitment, it’s little wonder why our work has earned us so many repeat customers. Whether you own a landmark tourist destination, a local community venue or a private residence, we are sure our work can inspire you to partner with us again and again as well.
