Bungalow Scenic Studios is a one-stop design shop for innovative experiences within the themed entertainment industry. It provides a wide range of services including design, fabrication, logistics and installation.
While it began in the corporate events and signage world, Bungalow Scenic Studios quickly expanded into other sectors, gaining a reputation for its work in the themed entertainment world. It is now considered a leader in this field and has been growing its Orlando-based workspaces to better serve this sector. Recently, the firm has added state-of-the-art new technologies. This ensures that it can stay at the cutting edge of this always-evolving industry.
To find out more about the company’s broad spectrum of capabilities and the latest developments at its Orlando facility, which consists of two separate warehouses with a combined footprint of 150,000 square feet, blooloop speaks to Todd King, COO and owner, and GG Cook, director of accounts and business development.
Creating Bungalow Scenic Studios
Bungalow Scenic Studios began in 2011. However, its origin dates to the early 1990s when founders Colin Murphy and Mark Gentry met while studying at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
“Bungalow Scenic was created 12 years ago by Mark and Colin,” explains King. “They were roommates at University and then went on to work together in the staging industry, doing corporate events, trade shows and corporate meetings.”
Both Murphy and Gentry have more than 20 years of experience in scenic design. When the company that they worked for was bought out by a bigger company, they decided to strike out on their own, using their expertise to set up Bungalow Scenic Studios.
A true one-stop shop
The company calls itself a one-stop shop, and this is certainly not an exaggeration. Clients with projects of all sizes and scopes can benefit from a broad range of services and capabilities, from experienced project management, accounting and design teams to a fleet of skilled craftspeople.
On the project management side, the Bungalow Scenic team works closely with all departments to ensure that they meet clients’ needs and expectations, and make sure that projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to a quality standard. Meanwhile, those in the professional design team come from the worlds of theatre, dance, broadcast news, themed environments, as well as tradeshow, and corporate events. This team will work to come up with innovative concepts that meet clients’ briefs.
On the technical side, using the latest build technologies and materials, there is an army of skilled carpenters, electricians, painters, scenic artists, automotive paint technicians, CNC/3D routing professionals, 3D modellers and sculptors, 3D printers, graphics and print teams, fibreglass experts and metal fabricators working to make the projects a reality. Finally, there’s also a logistics team. This includes a fleet of seven trucks and an install team, who bring everything together on site.
With all these skills on offer, combined with Murphy and Gentry’s experience and knowledge, Bungalow Scenic Studios quickly became successful in the corporate world. Five years later, the pair brought King on board, in response to increased demand from clients in the themed entertainment sector. Cook, a Disney veteran, is a recent hire, having joined the firm in August 2023.
Getting into themed entertainment
King’s roots are as an artist, and he says spent his early career “dabbling around different artistic industries.”
However:
“I always came back to the scenic world, mostly doing things like metal fabrication, mural painting, sculpting, casting, and mould making for theme parks. Eventually, I got into project management and worked as a travelling project manager. In time, I took over facilities, and I started running and figuring out operations for different companies in the scenic world. Predominantly in the theme park sector.
“I was looking to do something new, and Bungalow was recommended to me by a connection I had within Disney. What attracted me to Bungalow was the ownership. The company has what feels more like a mom-and-pop type approach, but they do big things. It’s a big company, but they have kept that homely feeling.
“Many people who have worked under me throughout my career have done so through several companies, and they work for Bungalow now. They had the same philosophy – a lot of their employees have been with them through other companies before. That’s what helped us build the culture, those tight personal relationships that we’ve nourished, over 10 plus years.”
From the realm of the theatre to the world of Disney’s magic
Cook’s journey into the world of theatre began with a heartwarming childhood memory:
“My dad was a history teacher and ran a drama club in the spring. So, at about seven or eight years old, I was backstage building sets.
“I grew up in southwestern Pennsylvania and went to the University of Pittsburgh. I graduated and started work at Disney about two months later, working on the opening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom as a technician. That led to being a rigger, a production planner, and then a technical director.”
Over the course of his 26-year tenure with Disney, Cook’s talent and dedication brought to life a host of creations, including the Dream and Fantasy cruise ships and the Mickey and The Magician show at Disneyland Paris. Turning his gaze forward, Cook shares his insights on what sets Bungalow apart and what brought him to his new role.
“It’s the family atmosphere and the passion. The way that we do one thing is the way that we do everything. The team at Bungalow concentrates on the details and supports each other through the entire process, from the first time we touch a client to making sure they are satisfied with the result.”
In admiration of the owners, Cook supports their effort to craft a welcoming environment and pursuit of exceptional talent:
“The leadership team has worked hard to create that atmosphere and to bring the right level of talent. I’ve seen how well the team works from the outside, as a client. Now, seeing it from the inside, the amazing talent that’s here is even more clear. I’m humbled to be a part of it.”
Balancing between two realms
While Bungalow Scenic Studios operates within two distinct industries, catering to clients in both the corporate world and the realm of themed entertainment, it’s notable that many of the essential skills and capabilities needed for success in these sectors harmoniously overlap and complement each other. With a primary focus on themed entertainment, it’s remarkable how its skills and capabilities align with the demands of this captivating industry.
Talking about how his themed entertainment background will help Bungalow grow further in this sector, Cook says:
“I bring a unique perspective, having been on the other side of the table. I also have a lot of experience with other shops; I have seen the work that they do, and how they set up their shop. That means I have good insight into what works well. So, I’m able to come in and say ‘Hey, have you ever tried this? This worked well when I worked on this project in New York.’
“In my time at Disney Live Entertainment, I found that I enjoyed being closer to the choices of products and having the opportunity to think through and understand how our guests will interact with something. And I can bring that perspective to the design process. For instance, I’m able to say ‘Hey, look, the bottom 18 inches of that face that needs to be all gold flakes – we need to figure out a clear hard coat that so that it’s impenetrable to wheelchairs and feet, and all of the things that a guest will do to scenic pieces once installed.’”
A new space and a new chapter for Bungalow Scenic Studios
Up until now, both parts of the business have worked out of the same facility. However, as Bungalow Scenic Studios continues to expand, it has now split this work across two state-of-the-art spaces, adding to its existing footprint in Orlando.
“The introduction of the new facility streamlines our processes and helps us to provide a better environment for our employees to work in,” says King. “All those things are passed on to the client, who is going to get a better experience and better quality.”
Touching on some of the new technology that the company has brought in, Cook adds:
“We’ve got a new KUKA 6 Axis Quantec Nano with a 10-position tool garage. This allows us to cut around the clock. Once it’s set up, it can take off on its own. It can do a lot of more efficient cutting to a 3D object than we could ask humans to do. We also have a cutting-edge FROG Print large-volume 3D Printer. So, we’re able to 3D print a lot of moulds and different things that we used to have to be cut by hand, really intricate pieces.”
The team also has a Roland VG3-640 printer/cutter. This adds the capability to print graphics in-house, cutting out additional costs from vendors. Over the last six months, Bungalow’s 3D printing capabilities have doubled over the last 6 months.
“And then there is the talent of our people, alongside the technology,” adds Cook. “These fabricators, painters, welders, carpenters, etc., are just so talented. That is one of the things that sets Bungalow apart. Even with the best machinery, the planning and understanding of that piece is still vital. It’s a new form of creativity, understanding how to use that machinery as an extension of a cutting utensil.”
Standout moments
Over the years, Bungalow Scenic Studios has worked on a range of projects in the themed entertainment world, for some of the biggest names in the business.
King says:
“When I get asked about my favourite projects, I don’t think there is a standout one. I love the projects and I love doing cool work. I’m an artist, and that’s why I got involved in this industry. But my motivation over the years has been how do I create a better organisation, and how do I create a better-quality environment? How do I give back more to the employees? How do I create the kind of place that I always wanted to work in, but never got a chance to?”
“As a result of that, I think the significance of the things that we build fall to the back burner. I love the work that we do. It’s hugely rewarding. But I think every major project holds some uniqueness for me. I couldn’t pick just one.
“Also, there have been some projects that have been pivotal for us, and a lot of that is because those projects pushed us to do new things, pushed us to expand on what we were already doing, whether we’re trying to attract new talent, or realising that we need more technology put into our company. The best projects often are the ones that challenge us.”
Clients across the themed entertainment industry
“It’s tough to dive deep into our work because so much is under NDA,” adds Cook. “Certainly, Universal and Disney are cherished clients. But we also do a lot of work in the zoo and aquarium world, as well as sports arenas. As our graphic shop and electric shop have expanded, we have a lot more capabilities. There’s no industry tied to entertainment that we don’t have our hands in.”
“I always say that we’re in an industry of unsung heroes,” says King. “We do all this work for these huge theme parks, but lots of us don’t ever really get credit for it. There was a part of me, at the beginning of my career, that was sad about that. But now I like being behind the curtain, part of the team that brings it all to fruition.”
In addition, Bungalow Scenic Studios has also been working with local educational organisations:
“We’ve got more involved with colleges and universities, doing internships, and helping on the curriculum side. We want more qualified, rounded students coming into our industry. There’s this huge influx of people now that are interested in an industry that no one ever knew existed just a few years ago.”
To get the Bungalow name out in the industry more, the firm has been increasingly involved with professional bodies and organisations. Recently, it hosted its second annual Open House at its facility in Orlando and is already planning next year’s event.
“We haven’t put ourselves out there, historically,” says King. “Recently, we’ve been getting more involved with the industry and with industry organisations like the TEA and IAAPA. We want to try to get our name out there. But most importantly, we want to get more involved in the industry.”
What’s next for Bungalow Scenic Studios?
Looking ahead, the Bungalow Scenic Studios team is continuing to work with its roster of high-profile clients. It is also welcoming new projects from across the themed entertainment sector.
The company has a long-standing relationship with Gaylord Resorts.
“We handle all the Gaylord properties currently for the build, storage and maintenance of its Winter Villages across the country, and we’ll continue that partnership,” says King.
Then, there are the new parks being built:
“There are some big projects underway. I think with some of the reaches that the bigger parks are having, there are just not enough scenic shops to go around. We are going to be able to help ease that load for them, so we’ll be working on some of those projects as well.
“We’re looking to expand our portfolio and take on bigger things as we move forward into 2024.”
Cook adds: “We want to continue to sharpen our knives in the drawer, to be that one-stop shop. We’re working to understand the clients and how we can better support that front end so that the fabrication can continue to be more efficient. In addition, we’re going to always set our sights to expand on our capabilities and see what kind of technologies are emerging that we may be able to bring in and use.
“The themed environment is booming, and we’re excited to be on the front end of it.”
To arrange meetings with the Bungalow Scenic Studios team at IAAPA Expo in November, please email Lauren Hatfield-Day.
