The NEW jackrouse.com

We are pleased to unveil the NEW www.jackrouse.com. Here you'll find information on the people and processes that can help you with your design solutions. You'll find project portfolios for each of our market segments. Most importantly, you'll find the NEW JRA + blog! :-)

Please let us know what you think of the new site, and don't forget to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages. Starting next week, we'll be asking our loyal readers a "Question of the Week" to hear what types of museums and attractions you like and what you see as the future of the museum and attraction industry.

So, enjoy, and we look forward to hearing from you!

Meet the Team: Grania Frueh

Wiggling ears, running and olives? It must be time for another Meet the Team segment, and this time, we're asking five questions of JRA co-op, Grania Frueh.

I beat a creative block by...Listening to music and browsing thedieline.com.

My favorite part of the design process is...Brainstorming new ideas.

My hidden talent is...I can wiggle my ears.

Best stress buster... Running, it works miracles.

What ís your favorite food? Olives, any kind-I like them all.

We've got some big news dropping tomorrow, so be sure to tune in HERE at www.jrablog.com for the major announcement!

JRA Wins International Design Award for Ferrari World

Event Design Magazine has just announced its 2011 Event Design Award Winners, and Jack Rouse Associates is ecstatic to have been awarded top honors. JRA, along with British architectural firm Benoy, received the Gold Winner designation for Best Permanent Exhibition for Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. Opened this past November, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is the world's largest indoor theme park and immerses guests with the passion, performance and culture of the legendary Ferrari brand.

"We are thrilled to receive this award from Event Design," said Keith James, JRA Chief Executive Officer/Owner. "So many hands touched the Ferrari World project, and we share this with all who have been involved in its success."

Other award recipients included Ralph Appelbaum Associates for the Royal Court of Bahrain's National Charter Monument, Heartland Scenic Studios for the American Museum of Natural History's "Brain: The Inside Story" and Thinkwell for the Fernbank Museum of Natural History.

A complete list of winners can be found here. Congratulations to all!

Conference World Tour 2011: IAAPA Asian Attractions Expo

The final leg of our “conference world tour” took place from June 21st through the 24th in Singapore, host of the 2011 Asian Attractions Expo.

Held at the impressive Resorts World Sentosa on Sentosa Island, the annual conference features a variety of expert-led education sessions, one-of-a-kind evening events, exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of Singapore’s world-class attractions, and an extensive trade show featuring consultants and suppliers from around the world. This year’s conference was a huge success and broke records both for general attendance and the number of tradeshow participants.

JRA had a significant presence at the show, with almost a dozen team members attending from JRA’s design, project management and marketing groups, including Shahryn Azmi and Zarina Rafique from JRA Southeast Asia, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Expo’s opening night reception was held at the recently opened Universal Studios Singapore. While somewhat smaller than the Universal parks in Orlando and Los Angeles, the 49-acre park is packed with a variety of state-of-the art rides, attractions, themed areas and shows. JRA favorites included the Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure water ride; the whimsical Madagascar: A Crate Adventure dark ride; and the exciting Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride indoor coaster.

Several of JRA staffers had the opportunity later in the week to explore the rest of Sentosa Island, which features a number of JRA-designed attractions, including the Merlion and Fort Siloso.

The JRA team also attended an elegant evening event hosted by our friends from Kingsmen held at The Jewel Box at the top of the iconic Mt. Faber. A big thanks to Kingsmen for hosting such a wonderful reception.

Next year’s conference will take place in Hong Kong from June 5th through the 8th.

That's it for our Conference World Tour 2011. Thanks for reading, and remember, whether it's halfway across the world or just outside your door, it's never too late to have an adventure!

Project Spotlight - Throwback Edition: Amazing Chicago

This month marks the 5th anniversary of Amazing Chicago, located on the Windy City’s Navy Pier. Part fun house and part cultural journey, Amazing Chicago invites guests to navigate a series of mirror mazes and twisted tunnels set in a Chicago landscape.

Once inside Amazing Chicago, guests journey through various infinity-maze corridors and colorful sets depicting Chicago scenes. From dark underground tunnels to stunning architectural landmarks, Amazing Chicago takes visitors on a tour like no other.

Throughout the experience, special effects, music and narration bring sights and sounds of Chicago to life. It is the city’s first full-sensory maze experience.

Jack Rouse Associates designed the attraction and enlisted the help of famed London-based maze designer Adrian Fisher to design the mazes. Amazing Chicago is operated by Premier Yachts, the nation’s premier harbor cruise company. Premier Yachts owns and operates ships in Boston, Washington, D.C. and other Navy Pier attractions.

This Thursday, we’ll finish up the summer edition of our Conference World Tour 2011 with IAAPA Asia.

Meet the Team: Erin Graham

Teleportation, soccer and LEGOs. Just another day in the life of JRA Architecture co-op, Erin Graham.

If you could have any super powers, what would they be?

Definitely teleportation, because I could go anywhere! I could see the sun rise over the pyramids in the morning, grab lunch at a Parisian cafe, visit Tokyo in the afternoon, pop in on my friends for a bit, have dinner in Sydney, and still be back in time to see Times Square fully lit. I wouldn't even have to pay for gas!

What is your favorite part of the design process?

Though it can really make design challenging, my favorite part is the problem solving. I love when a constraint makes me think harder about a design: trying to make new things fit with old things, make less space seem like more space, make a building interact with its site, or make architecture that represents a philosophy.

What sport do you enjoy watching/playing?

Soccer. I started playing when I was four and I still love it. One of my favorite things to do in my spare time is play a pick-up game with my friends. I also like watching international play and the Premier League games when they're on television.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I've always wanted to design for LEGO. Those little blocks brought me so much joy when I was younger and still do. They're even what got me interested in design in the first place. I think playing with LEGOs and finding new ways to combine the bricks to build sets would be the ultimate job.

JRA Journeys: Conference World Tour 2011 - ECSITE

After the ASPAC conference in Guangdong, the next stop on our museum conference “world tour” was Warsaw, Poland, host of the 2011 ECSITE (European Network of Science Centers and Museums) conference.

Held from May 26 – 28, the conference attracted over 1,000 delegates from Europe and beyond. The theme of this year’s conference was “Freedom.”

Each year that I attend the ECSITE conference, I am impressed by how well the conference is organized by the host science center. This year actually exceeded by expectations as Copernicus Science Centre raised the bar in terms of their preparation and hospitality.

Copernicus Science Centre

The US$131 million dollar, 215,000-square foot museum just opened this past November and is already one of the more popular attractions in Warsaw. During a presentation about the science center early in the conference, we were told that on some weekend days, people actually wait for hours outside just to get in, as the center reaches its capacity quickly. The popularity of the science center is no doubt due to the quality of its exhibitions, programs and energetic staff.

Throughout the conference, there was ample time to explore the science center’s various galleries.

Some of my favorite exhibits and galleries included:

• Elektrobalt, a robot poet inspired by a character created by late Polish writer Stanislaw Lem
• A kinetic sculpture illustrating various types of wheels and gears
• A bubble sculpture which creates famous portraits (Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis hasn’t left this building)
• The museum’s beautiful and relaxing rooftop garden
• A series mechanical puppets illustrating science-based content.

Elvis Bubbles and Elektrobalt at Copernicus Science Centre

At the same time that Copernicus was hosting the ECSITE conference, they were also hosting their popular Science Picnic event.

Held every year in Warsaw since 1997, Science Picnic is an open-air science festival that attracts over 200,000 visitors. Over 250 institutions from Poland and abroad participate in the event, including various science centers and museums, universities, research institutes, science-related foundations and scientific groups.

Through various demonstrations, shows, exhibitions and interactives, Science Picnic conveys science-based content in a way that is both entertaining and educational.

Congratulation to Copernicus’ management and staff, who simultaneously delivered two very successful science events in one week!

In two weeks, we'll make the final stop on our Summer Tour - Sentosa, Singapore and the IAAPA Asia Conference.

Honda’s walking robot, ASIMO makes a first ever appearance in Poland during the 2011 Science Picnic.

Outside the Studio: Another Project Manager on the Way!

It was an evening of celebration as the ladies of JRA toasted the impending arrival of the newest member of the team! Executive Assistant Chris Chynoweth and her husband, JRA Project Manager Mark Amos, are expecting a daughter in late July. It was a great excuse for a party, presents, and Graphic Designer Teresa John's famous cupcakes!

Chris joined JRA last fall when she and Mark returned from Abu Dhabi, where Mark was working on Ferrari World. She has been a fabulous addition to the team. We wish them nothing but the best and can't wait to meet their little girl!

Congratulations from everyone at Jack Rouse Associates.

Project Spotlight - Throwback Edition: Gateway Colorado Automobile Museum

Greetings! For this Project Spotlight: Throwback Edition, we’re celebrating the 5th anniversary of the Gateway Colorado Automobile Museum, a museum devoted to understanding and celebrating the history, science, design and social impact of the American car. The museum features the collection of John S. Hendricks, founder of Discovery Communications, Inc., the leading global real-world media and entertainment company.

The centerpiece of the facility is a TimeLine of historical vehicles and surrounding the TimeLine are a variety of themed galleries, including the Mass Mobility Gallery, Hollywoood High Style Gallery, American Muscle Gallery, and F-88 Gallery. Overall, more than 40 cars are displayed alongside archival advertisements, high-definition media pieces and science interactives developed according to local and regional academic curriculum standards. The centerpiece of the museum is a one-of-a-kind 1954 Oldsmobile F-88 “Dream Car,” which was purchased for a record $3.24 million.

“It was really refreshing working on the Gateway Auto Museum,” said Brian Donahue, Senior Project Director. “The client had a passion. A passion for classic automobiles. A passion that he decided to share with the community he lived in no matter what the cost, or lack of any possible return on investment. It was a true act of selflessness...”

Jack Rouse Associates provided complete design and project management for this 20,000-square-foot museum.

Meet the Team: Brent Ellis

For today's Meet the Team segment, we're introducing you to JRA Project Manager, Brent Ellis!

With a career spanning over 25 years, Brent Ellis has established himself as a proven, results-oriented, hands-on construction and development professional. Brent has successfully implemented a variety of multi-million dollar projects, for which he has provided contract negotiations, project estimating, document preparation, building code and regulations adherence oversight, material purchasing and site management through to certification of occupancy.

After spending seven years as Manager, Facility Maintenance & Construction for Canada’s Wonderland in Ontario, Brent joined JRA in 2007, and was part of the project management team responsible for delivering Ferrari World Abu Dhabi – the world’s largest indoor theme park. Brent is currently working on two major theme parks, both set to open in Europe within the next three years.

Throughout his career, Brent’s unique combination of interpersonal skills and technical knowledge has allowed him to successfully coordinate a variety of trades, develop partnerships among project participants, and build positive rapport with consultants and local officials, vendors and clients, all while adhering to each project’s set schedule and budget parameters.