THEME PARKS | COMMUNITY ATTRACTIONS
EDM: The Attractions Architect's Secret Weapon
Since 1975, EDM has been theme park and visitor attractions architects' go-to firm for engineering design. Projects include major ride and coaster foundations, loading stations, theatres, animal life structures, thematic elements, restaurants, kiosks, maintenance facilities, electrical distribution, boiler plants, and shade structures. Locations include key St. Louis attractions such as the Muny, Union Station and Grant's Farm, as well as Hersheypark, Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Sesame Place, Silver Dollar City and Six Flags.
The St. Louis Wheel
Union Station | St. Louis, MO
The newest attraction on the St. Louis horizon, this 200-foot high observation wheel has 42 fully-enclosed climate-controlled gondolas that can seat up to six adults. EDM’s structural design for the Wheel foundation includes 86-foot long reinforced concrete piers drilled to the underlying bedrock formation. EDM also designed the concrete loading platform, and foundations for the electrical control building and the converted shipping containers used for the ticketing office and vendors.
EDM Services: Structural Engineering / Foundation Design
Chocolatetown in Hersheypark
Hershey Entertainment | Hershey, PA
EDM was the Structural Engineer-of-Record for Chocolatetown, supporting Lead Architect, PGAV Destinations. The first phase of this expansion’s multiple upgrades and new attractions including 20,000 SF, 2-level of restaurants and shops, a new entry village, and Candymonium, a sensational new 4,600 LF ride, and all associated structures including a 3-level station, 5,000 SF covered queue building,
3-level, 1,900 SF maintenance building, lockers and ancillary attractions. Renderings and photos courtesy of PGAV and Hershey Entertainment
EDM Services: Structural Engineering / Foundation Design
Backstage Improvements | The Muny in Forest Park
St. Louis, MO
Working with the prime architect, CORE10, EDM is the Structural Engineer-of-Record for renovations to the backstage area of the beloved Muny, including dressing rooms, music room, costume shop, scenic shop, restrooms, covered work areas, deli, and production staff office. EDM's scope included engineering design for reconfiguration of existing spaces and development of new spaces; new 3-story entry structure with new ramp/walkway, lobby, elevator and stairs; all new HVAC and piping; site drainage modifications; and 3rd floor addition on top of the existing administration building.
EDM Services: MEP/FP, Civil and Structural Engineering, Needs Assessment, Site Analysis, Construction Administration
Infinity Falls River Raft Ride
SeaWorld | Orlando, FL
EDM, as a subconsultant to PGAV, provided structural design for the entire run of 1,700 LF of trough, flume and reservoir including foundations for all equipment and 600 LF of elevated walkways. EDM’s structural design considered that, in about 7 seconds, 900,000 gallons of water fill the troughs, and four massive pumps push water into the troughs at a level that would fill a large swimming pool. EDM was also responsible for the foundations of the ride’s inline station with guest loading into boats on a conveyor as well as a covered queue building, entry icon and sign, maintenance building and boat hoists. Photos courtesy of PGAV Destinations
EDM Services: Structural Engineering / Foundation Design
GROW Pavilion
Saint Louis Science Center | St. Louis, MO
GROW is a permanent agriculture exhibit that encompasses an acre of indoor and outdoor interactive learning spaces. EDM provided full engineering design services for this 5,000 SF pavilion, designed by Arcturis, which features a flexible, open floor plan housing varying educational activities, exhibits and events. EDM designed the structural elements and associated components of the award-winning innovative, curved roofline with exposed wood interior. photos courtesy of Arcturis
EDM Services: MEP, Civil and Structural Engineering
Electric Eel Coaster
SeaWorld | San Diego, CA
The Electric Eel is a multi-launch coaster, with several thrusts of accelerations throughout the ride. EDM provided foundation and associated structural engineering services with PGAV as lead designer. The project also included a 450-SF educational exhibit, ride station, maintenance building, locker space and shade structures. To meet seismic and static settlement criteria, EDM’s engineers designed a ground improvement solution that utilized cement deep-soil mixing with more than 200 6-ft-diameter columns down to 40-ft depths to support the 11,000-SF mat foundation slab. Photos courtesy of PGAV Destinations and SeaWorld
EDM Services: Structural Engineering / Foundation Design
Mako Roller Coaster
SeaWorld | Orlando, FL
Mako is a steel hypercoaster that reaches a height of 200 feet with a maximum speed of 73 miles per hour, and has a total track length of 4,760 feet. The coaster was named after the Mako shark, which is considered to be the fastest species in the oceans. This coaster is located adjacent to the Shark Encounter aquarium, also engineered by EDM.
EDM Services: Re-Theming Concepts / Structural Engineering / Foundation Design (coaster and all support buildings and facilities)
Explorer's Reef
SeaWorld | San Diego. CA
This 3-acre interactive exhibit is featured at the new park entrance. It has a 50% open-air roof design and a complex fiberglass and space-frame steel structure. Immediately after entering, there are four 24,000-gallon touch pools containing sharks, skates, horseshoe crabs, stingrays and cleaner fish.
EDM Services: Structural Engineering
Verbolten Roller Coaster
Busch Gardens | Williamsburg, VA
Verbolten is a 3,000-foot long, multi-launching steel roller coaster. It takes guests for a tour from the Oktoberfest Celebrations, through the countryside, then a twisted turn into the mysterious Black Forest. Photos courtesy of PGAV Destinations and Busch Gardens
EDM Services: Structural Engineering / Foundation Design (coaster and all support buildings and facilities)
