Al Cross has been part of the PGAV team since 1992. Over the past three decades, he’s helped shape some of the world’s leading themed entertainment experiences, including seven theme parks built from the ground up.
As well as its work with animal parks, the company is particularly strong when it comes to the design of attractions involving water. Some of PGAV’s credits over the past decade include China’s Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, Rulantica at Europa-Park and the new St Louis Aquarium in the US. In line with a corporate mission to deliver story-driven destinations, “Al pushes our teams, our clients, and himself to design things that connect on an awesome, bombastic level,” says one of his nominators. “That’s who he is: A connector of big worlds and awesome people.”
After four decades at the St Louis-based design firm, the PGAV executive remains grounded. “He enjoys design and architecture so much that he once told me that while he was so proud to be a VP, he was a little sad to see ‘Designer’ leave his title.”