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OpenAire to build indoor waterpark with retractable roof at Jay Peak, Vermont

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Jay Peak OpenAire

Related: OpenAire to Build World’s Largest Retractable Aluminum Dome

Vermont’s Jay Peak ski resort will soon be the site of an exciting landmark – the resort will be adding a waterpark with an aluminum framed enclosure and retractable roof.

Designed and built by Oakville-based OpenAire Inc, the new attraction will be the largest that OpenAire has built in North America, and an important part of transforming Jay Peak into a year-round vacation destination.

Jay Peak Resort opened in the 1950’s, and in the years since has made continuous and numerous expansions to the skiing and riding trails. Jay Peak is now embarking on a major expansion that will bring luxurious new lodging options and an array of four-season activities – and the new water park will play an important role in that transformation.

The Jay Peak water park enclosure is the tallest that OpenAire has built in North America. Measuring 140’ wide and 280’ long and 43’ high at the sidewalls, it adds up to over 40, 000 square feet. The design also includes a curved cupola at the apex that allows for a 55’ high slide tower. Plus, the structure can handle 80 lbs. per square foot of snow load, which is a vital design feature for Jay Peak, located in a region of the US with a higher snowfall than some Rocky Mountain ski resorts.

OpenAire’s retractable roof has a number of eco-friendly benefits, all of which offer energy and dollar savings in comparison with traditionally built waterparks:

*  When the weather is warm enough to retract the roof, fresh air naturally floods the building, with the interior humidity being exhausted through the open roof. This means mechanical systems that typically control the atmosphere aren’t required when the roof is open, resulting in tremendous energy savings.

* The enclosure, with its polycarbonate roof and insulated glass sides, lets in plenty of sunlight, which saves money on lighting. “Even on the darkest, cloudiest days, we don’t have lights on, ” says Mark Albertine, president of OpenAire. “We only turn them on when the sun goes down, and that translates to huge energy savings.”

* The building’s frame is all aluminum and is 100% recyclable, so construction leaves a smaller carbon footprint.

Black River Design of Montpelier, Vermont is the architect and DEW Construction Corp. of Williston, Vermont is the general contractor for the Jay Peak expansion. Says Albertine, “We met up with Black River and DEW at an IAAPA seminar where OpenAire’s work was being presented as an example of how to build a water park. They were very excited about the retractable roof capability, and also the green attributes of the design.”

“OpenAire has overcome significant engineering challenges to design and build the Jay Peak park, ” says Albertine. “We have addressed size constraints, snow loads, accommodated a hotel, and faced numerous design issues to arrive at an exciting first for our company – and for the industry!”

The waterpark will open in fall 2011. View the computer animation of the waterpark at https://www.openaire.com/video/jaypeak-waterpark/

CONTACT:
Mark Albertine, President
OpenAire Inc
1 800 267 4877
www.openaire.com

Ken Liatsos
PMG PR (Jay Peak Resort)
802 863 3929 ext 104
www.jaypeakresort.com

Mark Montminy
Black River Design
www.blackriverdesign.com

Andrea Cronan
DEW Construction Corp.
802 872-0505
www.dewcorp.com

About OpenAire

OpenAire has been designing and manufacturing beautiful, high-quality retractable roof enclosures and skylights for almost 20 years. Their commercial projects include the Americana Indoor Water Park in Niagara Falls, Canada, Big Splash Island in French Lick, Indiana, and the world’s largest indoor waterpark with a retractable aluminum dome in Ukraine. By combining your unique vision with OpenAire’s expertise, incredible venues become reality.

About Jay Peak

The new 57-suite Tram Haus Lodge at Jay Peak offers a mix of studio, 1 and 2 bedroom units (with one 3-bedroom suite) each with fireplace, flat screen televisions, full kitchens, decks and sweeping mountain and valley views. Tram Haus Lodge features a new bar and restaurant with seating for up to 180, a fitness center, a coffee shop and bakery and a small retail store. All packages include a full breakfast and full dinner as well as locker and fitness center privileges. The property was designed around skiers and riders, with lockers with room for multiple sets of equipment only steps from the slopes, good coffee, easy access to equipment repair and demo, and plenty of in-room storage.  The Tram Haus Lodge is the first new resort facility to open in a multi-year, four season, $100 million development plan. Construction has started on a new Ice Arena, Nordic Center, and Golf Clubhouse, scheduled to come online by June of 2010.

About Black River Design

Black River Design is twenty-nine architects, designers and administrators working together to offer a full range of building design, interior design, historic preservation and planning services. We have been serving communities throughout Vermont and New England with award winning designs from our downtown Montpelier office for nearly 30 years. Our talented design staff is led by seven partners and includes thirteen registered architects. We undertake a wide variety of projects in the public, residential and commercial fields. We have a long standing commitment to sustainable design and to producing stimulating, functional and affordable buildings of lasting quality that meet the unique energy and aesthetic constraints of our northern New England climate.

About DEW Construction Corp.

DEW Construction Corp. offers a full range of preconstruction and construction services throughout northern New England and up-state New York. With a staff of 100+ seasoned construction professionals, we have the ability to run multiple projects at one time and are committed to providing the finest construction services in the marketplace.
Our integrated group of professionals provide experience in all areas of construction including educational, retail, multi-family housing, medical, office, recreational, manufacturing, and hotel/resort facilities.

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