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NewBay Media Acquires AV-IQ Online Resource from InfoComm

Joe Kleiman
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NewBay Media Acquires AV-IQ Online Resource from InfoComm

[quote]We are excited to have this unique, valued resource join our industry-leading AV and IT focused portfolio of brands and services.  The addition of AV-IQ immediately strengthens our ability to serve the commercial AV market, and expands NewBay’s data, analytics and lead generation capabilities.” — Steve Palm, CEO, NewBay Media[/quote]

New York, NY, USA (August 1, 2014) — NewBay Media, publisher of leading commercial AV magazines such as Systems Contractor News, Sound & Video Contractor, AV Technology, Digital Signage, Tech & Learning, Mix and Pro Sound News, as well as the Official InfoComm Show Daily and Show Guide, has announced the acquisition of AV-IQ, the AV industry’s Equipment, Providers Directory & Industry Resource Center, from InfoComm International.

AV-IQ is a comprehensive online resource for the pro-AV industry that includes equipment database, case studies, local service directories, product comparison tools, and much more. It features My-iQ, a personalized, cloud-based industry information resource that allows users to select sources, choose their own content, decide when to receive alerts, manage their own project lists, and search current and historical data by brand, product type, or date.

“InfoComm has proudly owned AV-iQ for 14 years and has overseen its development from a simple online catalog to the robust, comprehensive resource it is today,” says David Labuskes, CTS, RCDD, Executive Director and CEO, InfoComm International. “I was initially surprised, albeit flattered, when NewBay approached InfoComm about purchasing this asset. However, as the InfoComm leadership team evaluated the offer, we came to realize that a successful private enterprise, like NewBay, would be better situated to leverage this data solution than a non-profit association ever could.”

The talented AV-IQ team has joined NewBay and will continue to be based out of its Minneapolis, MN offices. Management of AV-IQ will be handled by Adam Goldstein, EVP/Group Publisher, NewBay Media AV/Pro Audio, and Robert Ames, VP/Corporate Director of Digital Media.

“I look forward to working with the AV-IQ team to continue to build out this tremendous industry resource,” adds Goldstein. “It’s an exciting time for the commercial AV industry and my colleagues, both old and new, are excited about our expanding capabilities within this dynamic marketplace.”

http://av-iq.com

Tom Wolber Named New President of Euro Disney as Philippe Gas Heads to Shanghai

Joe Kleiman
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Tom Wolber Named New President of Euro Disney as Philippe Gas Heads to Shanghai

[quote]We are very proud that The Walt Disney Company has chosen Philippe, a French top executive, to lead a huge and strategic project such as Shanghai Disney Resort. We also welcome Tom and wish him a lot of success in his new function” — Virginie Calmels, Chairman of Euro Disney Supervisory Board.[/quote]

Marne-la-Vallée, France (August 1st, 2014) — Euro Disney S.C.A. today announced the nomination of Tom Wolber to the position of Président of Euro Disney S.A.S., the management company of both Euro Disney S.C.A., the holding company, and Euro Disney Associés S.C.A., the operator of Disneyland Paris, in replacement of Philippe Gas named General Manager of Shanghai Disney Resort.

“One of our greatest assets is the global strength of our teams,” said Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “Both Philippe and Tom are seasoned Disney veterans with a tremendous combination of leadership skills, business acumen, and international experience that will help ensure that we carry on our legacy of creating unforgettable experiences for our guests. They bring an incredible depth of operational experience to their respective roles and are well positioned to contribute to the future success of Shanghai Disney Resort and Disneyland Resort Paris”.

“On behalf of all Supervisory Board members, I would like to thank Philippe for the excellent collaboration we had together and for his personal involvement in Euro Disney during the last 6 years”, said Virginie Calmels, chairman of Euro Disney Supervisory Board.

Tom’s appointment will be effective in September 2014. He will transition into this new role during the summer, working with Philippe to ensure continued commitment to the company’s long term strategic priorities. Tom is German and speaks 4 languages: French, Dutch, English and German. He returns to Disneyland Paris, which he helped to open in 1992 and brings more than 20 years of wide-ranging operations experience including leadership positions at Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club and both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Paris. He most recently served as the head of Walt Disney World Resort and Transportation Operations, overseeing all of the 28 resort hotels and the property’s extensive transportation network. He has also overseen a number of complex expansion projects, including the successful launch of the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy and was instrumental in the Disney Springs master plan and the continued growth of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts’ sports business

www.disneylandparis.com

Scientific Games Expands Gaming Portfolio with Acquisition of Bally Technologies

Joe Kleiman
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Scientific Games Expands Gaming Portfolio with Acquisition of Bally Technologies

[quote]The acquisition of Bally provides us with a unique opportunity to combine two exceptional companies with long track records of creating leading-edge games and gaming technology products for players and delivering innovative solutions to our customers.” — Gavin Isaacs, Scientific Games’ President and Chief Executive Officer[/quote]

New York, NY and Las Vegas, NV, USA (August 1, 2014) /BUSINESS WIRE/— Scientific Games Corporation (Nasdaq: SGMS) (“Scientific Games”) and Bally Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BYI) (“Bally”) today announced that the companies have entered into a definitive merger agreement whereby Scientific Games has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding Bally common stock for $83.30 in cash per share, which represents a 38 percent premium to Bally’s closing stock price on July 31, 2014. The aggregate transaction value is approximately $5.1 billion, including the refinancing of approximately $1.8 billion of existing Bally net debt. The transaction was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of the two companies.

“With leading gaming, lottery, and interactive content, world-class systems capabilities and table game offerings, we believe that the combined company will be uniquely positioned as a strategic partner for gaming and lottery operators, offering a highly diversified suite of value-enhancing products and services across multiple worldwide distribution channels and platforms,” said Gavin Isaacs, Scientific Games’ President and Chief Executive Officer. 

“Having worked side-by-side with the talented teams at Bally and more recently Scientific Games, I am confident this combination brings together best-of-breed cultures and is occurring at a truly opportune time as both companies are committed to bringing the highest value products and services to customers,” continued Mr. Isaacs. “The combined company will feature world-class research and development capabilities, an expanded base of recurring revenues and greater worldwide penetration in key geographies, including the AustralAsia region. In addition to the strategic value of the transaction to our customers, we expect to create significant shareholder value as the transaction is expected to deliver immediate earnings and cash flow accretion and will allow us to meaningfully reduce our leverage over the next three to four years. Reflecting both organizations’ recent post-merger integration successes, we have identified and expect to realize $220 million in annual cost synergies and $25 million of annual capital expenditure savings by the end of the second year following the closing of the transaction.”

“The combination with Scientific Games will benefit our customers and shareholders,” said Richard Haddrill, Bally’s Chief Executive Officer. “Increased scale, geographic diversity and product development capabilities will create a new runway of growth opportunities through new products and a comprehensive portfolio of customer-focused solutions. This transaction delivers immediate value to our shareholders, and the highest share price in our history. We look forward to working with our new colleagues at Scientific Games to execute a detailed integration plan to realize customer satisfaction and additional value.”

Expanded Portfolio and Improved Operating Efficiencies

The transaction would expand Scientific Games’ portfolio of products and solutions to include leading casino management systems and table products, including automatic shufflers, proprietary table games and electronic table systems. It would also expand the range of Scientific Games’ social and real-money iGaming and iLottery products and services. This expanded portfolio is expected to position Scientific Games to better cross-utilize content and technology across the lottery, gaming and interactive sectors to propel future growth.

The combined company is expected to have world-class global sourcing, production, engineering and product development capabilities, as well as a large installed global base of diverse recurring revenue products and services. Scientific Games and Bally generated combined revenue of approximately $3.0 billion in the 12-month period ended March 31, 2014.

Scientific Games expects to achieve the anticipated $220 million of cost synergies and $25 million of capital expenditure savings by consolidating operations and generating efficiencies in the areas of manufacturing, engineering, field and customer service and administrative operations. Scientific Games anticipates incurring $75 million of costs to achieve the cost synergies and $40 million in capital costs to complete the integration of the companies. In addition, the combined company is expected to benefit from accelerated utilization of various tax attributes against U.S.-based pre-tax income.

Transaction Terms

Scientific Games would acquire all of the outstanding shares of Bally for $83.30 per share in cash, for a total transaction value of approximately $5.1 billion, including net debt of approximately $1.8 billion. The acquisition would be financed with debt and cash on hand and Scientific Games has obtained committed debt financing for the transaction, which is not subject to a financing contingency.

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of Bally shareholder approval and antitrust and gaming regulatory approvals, and is currently expected to be completed in early 2015. Scientific Games and Bally are both licensed in more than 300 gaming jurisdictions worldwide, which is expected to help facilitate obtaining the required gaming regulatory approvals.

Upon closing of the transaction, Mr. Isaacs will continue as President and Chief Executive Officer of Scientific Games, and it is anticipated that Mr. Haddrill and David Robbins, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bally, will join the board of directors of Scientific Games, with Mr. Haddrill anticipated to serve as Vice Chairman.

www.scientificgames.com

From Easton to Orlando, Crayola re-draws the brand-land experience: IPM exclusive interview with George Wade

Judith Rubin
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From Easton to Orlando, Crayola re-draws the brand-land experience: IPM exclusive interview with George Wade

InPark Magazine’s exclusive interview with executive producer George Wade

by Judith Rubin, co-editor

The new Crayola Experience Orlando is set to open in summer 2015 at the Florida Mall. [Read press release here.] George Wade of Bay Laurel Advisors is in the role of executive producer/project manager of entertainment, interfacing with Crayola’s internal team as he was for Crayola’s 2013 re-invention of its original visitor center in Easton, Pennsylvania, headquarters town of Crayola LLC.

Please describe your scope of work for Crayola Experience Orlando and your relationship with Crayola Corporation.

George Wade
George Wade

I will be project managing the entertainment aspects from design through production and installation, which is basically same role I performed for the Easton project. My client is Crayola Corp. and I report to Victoria Lozano, the VP of Corporate Strategy. The re-envisioning effort that produced The Crayola Experience began a little over three years ago with the Easton project: Bay Laurel Advisors and Management Resources assisted Crayola in developing initial analysis for the renovation program, setting goals for project and then launching and taking it all the way through to completion.

How has The Crayola Experience in Easton performed in its first year?

Crayola is very happy with its success on many levels. First and foremost, they are happy with the joy they have brought to numerous children. The response from the general public has been overwhelmingly positive, and that’s been very rewarding for everyone involved. Crayola Experience Easton is also a commercial success – as evidenced by fact that Crayola is going forward with a second one now, in Orlando.

Describe what you and your company bring to the job.

Over my 30-plus year career, I have worked on a wide range of projects from large scale theme parks to independent attractions and everything else in between. I’ve been active on the pre-development side as well as the design and execution side. My background is originally in theatre – technical design, stage management and production – and I learned very early on in my career that the themed entertainment business is, in essence, another form of theatre, utilizing many of the same critical skillsets.

When did you form your own company?

I launched Bay Laurel Advisors, my consulting business, in 2009, after my second tour of duty with MGM – five years as senior vice president of location based entertainment. Since then, I have been assisting clients in front end analysis of projects from the creative and business standpoint, and for some, also assisting in implementation and execution strategy.

At this time, what is the status of Crayola Experience Orlando in terms of the production process?

Exterior RetailWe are in schematic design now. Production will commence later this year, and installation in spring 2015. It will be a fast track process. The Weber Group design firm and project architect Callison Global are the backbone of the creative team. The retail design firm is Reztark Management, as for the Easton facility. Management Resources is on board again as well, as operations adviser.

What can you tell us about the guest experience planned for this new location? Will it be similar to Easton? What are the special challenges in serving the Orlando market?

While I can’t go into specifics at this time, the guest experience will be hands-on interactive as at Easton, and range from high-tech to low-tech. Many key elements of Easton will also be part of Orlando. However, every product must evolve over time, and part of our effort right now is to determine the best way to do that as we move to Orlando.

With everything in life, there are positives and challenges. Orlando draws a huge family market, but those families have a lot of options when it comes to how they spend their time and money. You have to have a compelling product and be competitive. A lot of forethought is being put into defining the positives that market offers to us, and how we are going to take advantage of those positives.

Whatever market you go into, you have got to be the best you can be. We have a fantastic opportunity at the Florida Mall. It’s a good location for us, with a good tenant mix including an American Girl store – and it’s owned and operated by Simon Property group, which is one of the best.

How do you stay on track?

Front EntranceAs executive producer it’s my job to bring the team together to help mold the vision and keep us on course for the vision. One of the things I do to stay in tune with the vision and the client culture is to review the “Crayola Inspire” video, a sort of corporate manifesto that the company created several years ago in the process of an introspective analysis about who Crayola was in the marketplace. I have seen it about 200 times in the past four years and it always gives me inspiration. It’s a great statement about the DNA of Crayola. They’re a cool company and I have tremendous respect for what they represent.

Are there any creative, construction or operations roles yet to be filled that themed entertainment contractors would like to know about? If so, where should they direct their inquiries?

There are some additional roles that will be bid out in the future. We have not finalized anything yet in this regard, but we will provide an email address within the next two weeks for such inquiries.

What else has your company been working on recently?

Bay Laurel Advisors is currently working with a major IP owner on a licensing and branding strategy for attractions.

Click here to read “How Crayola articulates its brand identity using integrated marketing” by Victoria Lozano of Crayola LLC

Parques Reunidos Welcomes Miami Seaquarium Into Family of Parks and Announces Major Expansion of Marineland Antibes

Joe Kleiman
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Parques Reunidos Welcomes Miami Seaquarium Into Family of Parks and Announces Major Expansion of Marineland Antibes

[quote]This acquisition underpins our strategy to grow through acquisition and geographic diversification, as well to invest in our existing parks and continually improve the visitor experience. Marine life installations are one of our core businesses, where we have developed a world class reputation. We are the only true operator that successfully manages all different types of park with an extensive international, global reach” — Yann Caillère, CEO of Parques Reunidos[/quote]

Madrid, Spain — Arle Capital has announced that portfolio company Parques Reunidos, a leading global leisure park operator, has completed its acquisition of Florida’s Miami Seaquarium. The acquisition was funded through existing cash reserves from its US business Palace Entertainment, which owns more than 38 parks across the US.

Miami Seaquarium is the longest-operating oceanarium in the US, attracting around 650,000 visitors per annum, with a season which runs throughout the year. Uniquely positioned in Virginia Key (Miami-Dade County), the park allows visitors to view or interact with marine animals including dolphins, manatees, sea lions and hosts eight different marine animal shows each day.

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The Seaquarium has exciting growth potential driven by a burgeoning Miami economy, strong customer recognition and the strong commitment for financial support from Parques Reunidos.

This acquisition completes Parques Reunidos’ portfolio of marine life parks that already includes parks with iconic brands such as Sea Life in Hawaii, Marineland in France, Selwo Marina in Spain and Oceanarium in the UK. It additionally manages the L’Oceanografic, the largest European park of its kind, located in Valencia, Spain.

Commenting on the acquisition, Javier Abad, Partner at Arle Capital, said:

“This is a landmark acquisition for the Group in the US. The quality of the park, the opportunity to further expand Seaquarium’s offering and the year-round experience presented by the local weather make it an excellent addition to our diversified US portfolio of parks. It is another positive development for Parques, following the recent successful refinancing of its European debt and injection of capital which will be used to drive organic growth and enhance the customer experience.”

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Fernando Eiroa, Palace Entertainment’s President and CEO, said:

“Palace Entertainment is excited to be adding such a premier entertainment and educational destination to our collection of family parks. We understand the commitment that Miami Seaquarium has to wildlife conservation, community involvement and their dedication to both educate and entertain guests.”

The Parques Reunidos Group will also be investing up to 30 million Euros over the next 3 years in its Marineland park, the largest marine life park in Europe, as part of its growth strategy and its plan for a continuous growth of its current park portfolio.

Marineland, owned by Parques Reunidos since 2006 and located in Antibes, France, has become the most visited attraction on the Côte d’Azur. Marineland is currently composed of four separate areas that include the marine life park itself (Marineland), a water park (Aquasplash), a mini-golf (Adventure Golf) and a kids entertainment area (Kids Island). Marineland is the only park in Europe to have killer whales in its animal collection and to enable visitors to enjoy the experience of swimming with the dolphins or diving among sharks.

This investments will allow Parques Reunidos to build “Marineland Resort”, the first resort to be integrated within the park, as well as “Paradise Creek”, an extension to the Dolphin Lagoon that will immerse visitors in a sub-aquatic adventure. Finally, the park will have a new 3D, 360-degree attraction, called “A Turtle Odyssey”.

Yann Caillère, CEO of Parques Reunidos, and Bernard Giampaolo, head manager of Marineland, have introduced these new projects for the park during the ceremony for the laying of the foundation stone of the Marineland Resort hotel, an event also attended by the major of Antibes, Jean Leonetti.

During the ceremony, Yann Caillère has outlined the key elements in the Group’s growth strategy for the next three years. Parques Reunidos is currently a leading player in the leisure industry, with over 26.2 million visitors in 2013 across its 69 parks, located in 12 countries.

Parques Reunidos aims to attract two million new visitors over the next three years, through a growth strategy based on two pillars: the optimization of its existing parks and an expansion through acquisitions and new management contracts.

“Marineland is a prime example of the first of the two pillars upon which we base our strategy for the future. It is a strategic park for the Group for its high potential for growth. That is why we will be investing 30 million Euros over the next three years, looking to improve the experience of our visitors, thanks to a new resort and a new area that will enable visitors to interact with marine life”, said Yann Caillère.

RENCONTRE DAUPHINS MARINELAND 2

The “Marineland Resort” hotel is expected to open in spring 2015. It will be a 3-star themed hotel consisting of 90 rooms and 5 suites, across five marine life-themed buildings, each dedicated to a particular animal (dolphin, killer whale, shark, turtle and bear).

This investment also includes the construction of “Paradise Creek”, an extension to the current Dolphin Lagoon decorated as a tropical island, with a white sand beach and an interactive swimming pool with the dolphins that will be able to hold up to 300 people, for an exclusive experience, unavailable anywhere else in the world. 

An “all-inclusive” package will offer visitors the chance to enjoy the lagoon, swim with the dolphins – a unique experience in Europe – and enjoy varied, high-quality gastronomic offerings.

Finally, the park will also invest in interactive activities around a new 3D and 360-degree attraction. “A Turtle Odyssey” will immerse visitors on a journey through the world of turtles, in which visitors will be able to admire the wonderful adventure that is the life of a turtle, from birth to adulthood and through its oceanic routes.

In the words of Bernard Giampaolo, head manager of Marineland “the hotel completes the park experience by offering visitors the chance to totally immerse in the Marineland world. Also, this accommodation offering enables our visitors to extend the length of their visit, allowing Marineland to become a true destination park. This hotel is just the beginning of new investments and more exciting experiences in our park”.

“Paradise creek will be our fifth theme park within Marineland to have extraordinary animals: dolphins, turtles, killer whales, rays, tropical fish, and many more. This new park completes our offer to guests so we can remain the preferred entertainment attraction of the Côte d’Azur”, stated Bernard Giampaolo.

Thanks to this investment, Marineland will continue growing, while remaining true to its two main objectives: to offer visitors real emotions and excitement and contribute to the preservation of various marine species. To this end, the park is involved, through its Foundation Marineland, in activities for the preservation of various species (Mediterranean marine turtles, polar bears, and so on) as well as in awareness and scientific research with the Conservation Research Center (CRC).

www.parquesreunidos.com

ProSlide Introduces World Premiere of New Hybrid Raft Ride at Six Flags Over Georgia

Joe Kleiman
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ProSlide Introduces World Premiere of New Hybrid Raft Ride at Six Flags Over Georgia

Ottawa, ON, Canada — ProSlide’s  new product for the fall is yet another Hybrid ride, a BehemothBOWL 40 + TornadoWAVE that opened at Six Flags Over Georgia in June. It’s a world’s first.

BehemothBOWL 40 + TornadoWAVE
Ride experience. Thrill-seekers on 4-person rafts barrel through twisting tunnels before shooting out into the huge bowl, high on the wall for maximum thrills. As they slow slightly through the revolution, riders gather their courage. Something’s coming and it’s going to be wild! Suddenly, the raft is sucked through the vortex of the bowl at triple speed and through a stomach-dropping chute, driving back and forth inside the flume, then into the slot for maximum thrills! Rafts plunge at a 45º angle onto the TornadoWAVE wall. A nail-biting zero-gravity moment as they make a wide, sweep across the wall. Then slide through the narrow exit, another curve and into the pool.

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Exclusive technology. Through deep design expertise, the widest range of fiberglass profiles and the completely predictable ride path of each component ride, ProSlide can create thrilling, safe and efficient hybrid ride combinations. TORNADO’s patented funnel shape is engineered to drive rafts further up the walls, delivering unparalleled excitement in maximum safety. Water injection systems ensure each raft exits consistently to maintain highest capacities. In the BehemothBOWL, the shape creates an electrifying ride, while CLOVERleaf tubes and CorkScrew exits ensure consistently high capacities.

Iconic water ride. ProSlide hybrid water rides let you offer a truly unique and exhilarating anchor attraction.  The showpiece attraction at Six Flags over Georgia’s multi-million dollar Hurricane Harbor waterpark addition, ProSlide’s BehemothBOWL 40 + TornadoWAVE custom water slide creates excitement from every corner of the park. ProSlide expertly integrated this big water slide into the new construction, leveraging a hill to reduce the cost of steel and maximize sight lines and wow factor. The 4-person rafts and 20-second dispatch rate possible through a double inline loading tub lets capacities reach ~720 riders an hour.

H_BB40+TNWave_SFOG (26e)

Guest Capacity

4-person
2-person
~ Hourly Ride Capacity 720 360
Dispatch Rate 20 seconds 20 seconds
Vehicle
CLOVERleaf™
WhirlyWHEEL™

Crayola Experience Announced for Orlando’s Florida Mall

Joe Kleiman
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Crayola Experience Announced for Orlando’s Florida Mall

[quote]This move is important to our evolution, vision and strategy. It’s a beautiful manifestation of what our brand
represents.” — Crayola CEO Mike Perry[/quote]

Orlando, FL, USA — One of the world’s most loved brands is bringing its Sunglow to the Sunshine State.

Crayola has announced that it will open a new Crayola Experience, a colorful family attraction, in the heart of Florida’s top family destination: Orlando. The new location is slated to open summer 2015 in the Florida Mall and will feature 25 hands-on attractions that offer hours of creative fun.

EXCLUSIVE: InPark interviews George Wade, executive producer/project manager of The Crayola Experience

SEE INPARK’S REPORT FROM THE 2013 GRAND OPENING OF THE EASTON CRAYOLA EXPERIENCE

Although best known for its iconic crayons and markers, the 111-year-old company now has more than 1,500 proprietary products and technologies that have changed the way kids play.

Front Entrance

“Ours has always been a culture of innovation,” Crayola CEO Mike Perry said. “This next adventure is yet another dynamic way we’re advancing our mission of helping parents and teachers raise creatively alive children and creating some colorful family memories in the process.”

This imaginative, larger-than-life concept wasn’t created over night. In 1996, Crayola opened a visitors’ center in Easton, Pa. Primarily founded as a tool to help revitalize the city’s downtown – Crayola’s hometown – The Crayola Factory featured one floor of interactive activities, as well as some arts and crafts.

Crayon Factory With Turq and Scarlet

“The Factory,” as it was affectionately known, remained for many years, until Perry and his team took a deeper look. There was more magic there than met the eye. And so it was decided: The #1 brand loved by moms was going to dip its paint brush into the attractions industry.

Inspired by the company’s mission and products, the team re-imagined what a state-of-the-art Crayola attraction should look like, Crayola Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Development Victoria Lozano said. The facility was completely redesigned in 2013 and re-opened featuring 25 all-new, hands-on attractions throughout four colorful floors.

“We believe creativity is an essential skill for kids. It can be taught, should be nurtured, but most importantly must be experienced,” Lozano said.

Exterior RetailAnd that experience will be uniquely Crayola. Many of the attractions feature proprietary technologies, designs and activities that allow children and families to experience the magic of Crayola color in ways they never have before.

“And where better to do that than in one of the nation’s top family destinations?” Lozano said.

“Crayola Experience is a natural fit for The Florida Mall and our strong family and tourist customer base,” Florida Mall General Manager Brian Hanson said. “We remain focused on elevating our shopper’s experience and are thrilled to welcome this dynamic destination to the property.”

Exterior Crayola LogoAt Crayola Experience Orlando, families will enjoy many of the brand’s signature attractions – such as “Wrap it Up!” where you can name and wrap an authentic Crayola crayon and “Be a Star,” where you can star in your very own coloring page – as well as some exciting new attractions that will debut in Orlando. The attraction also will have a retail component where guests will discover hundreds of unique Crayola products and souvenirs only found at Crayola Experience.

“So many people have a special relationship with our brand because of what we represent. How many people, for example, have memories of their first box of 64?” Perry said. “As we continue to evolve as a company, we see Crayola Experience as a way that we can continue to share in the creation of colorful memories and have a special place in their hearts moving forward.”

George Wade of Bay Laurel Advisors serves as Executive Producer/Project Manager on the Orlando project.  He held a similar position for the design of the original Crayola Experience in Easton.

www.crayolaexperience.com

Philips Color Kinetics Transforms The Gateway of India

Joe Kleiman
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Philips Color Kinetics Transforms The Gateway of India

Mumbai, India — Built in commemoration of King George V and Queen Mary’s visit in 1911, the Gateway of India has stood at the port of Mumbai for over 90 years. The arched monument made of yellow basalt stone stands 26 m (85 ft) high on Mumbai Harbor, overlooking the Arabian Sea.

The Gateway is the first object any ship docking in Mumbai would see. When British rule ended and the last British officials left Mumbai in 1948, they departed through the Gateway.

The Gateway of India is now a symbol of Indian independence, and is the most popular tourist destination in Mumbai, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Many locals, vendors, and photographers gather to see the striking monument.

The owner of the Gateway, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), desired to use light to translate the colorful collage of cultures that comprise India onto the monument of pride in Mumbai.

gate-way-of-india-04_012514054305

The high-pressure sodium vapor floodlight system installed a decade ago was not achieving the goal of bringing color and life to the monument. But MTDC knew that an LED lighting solution would deliver dynamic effects, vibrancy, long service life, low operating costs, and a palette of millions of colors.

It was Philips Color Kinetics that could accomplish all of these goals and dazzle the eye at the same time. ColorReach Powercore gen2 and ColorBlast Powercore fixtures were installed to saturate the Gateway with intense washes of colorful light. The colors are used for light shows, festivals, celebrations, and changing illumination themes over the seasons.

Twenty-four ColorReach Powercore gen2 fixtures were installed 15 m (50 ft) from the front and back of the monument to wash the walls evenly. Thirty ColorBlast Powercore fixtures were placed just 3 m (10 ft) away from the wall to create sharp accentuated spots of color.

The installation of LED lighting has reduced the connected load by 55%, from 18 kW to 9 kW. The cost saving benefits of Philips Color Kinetics products complemented the request for a colorful lighting solution.

gate-way-of-india-03_012514054305

“The monument is one of the most important photographic icons of Mumbai. It is a delight to see a company like Philips taking the initiative of transforming the night time view of the Gateway of India with lights. With a successful record of lighting up historical monuments in India, we are sure that Philips will yet again liven and transform Mumbai’s most admired monument through various possibilities of lighting,” said Dr. Jagdish Patil, Mangaing Director of MTDC.

The new lights were unveiled in a master ceremony with celebratory light shows on January 24, 2014. Philips Color Kinetics and the MTDC helped put Mumbai in a new light.

www.colorkinetics.com

DreamWorks Animation Enters the Holiday Retail Market with Innovative DreamPlace

Joe Kleiman
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DreamWorks Animation Enters the Holiday Retail Market with Innovative DreamPlace
[quote]DreamPlace turns the traditional mall holiday visit on its head with an immersive, interactive approach that draws on our signature brand of technology, storytelling and of course, humor.  We are continually looking for new ways to bring our characters to life and DreamPlace will deliver an unparalleled experience which fans will absolutely love.” — DreamWorks Animation’s Chief Global Brand Officer Michael Francis. [/quote]
Glendale, CA, USA — It’s a little known fact that Shrek, the curmudgeonly ogre
best known for fiercely protecting his swamp, actually dedicates his Christmas vacation to
helping families find Santa – but this year the secret is out! DreamWorks Animation
(Nasdaq: DWA), the global family entertainment brand best known for award-winning
storytelling and industry-leading innovation, makes its official foray into the retail space
with the launch of DreamPlace. A state-of-the-art reimagining of the holiday retail
experience, DreamPlace is a 2,000-square-foot holiday cottage and combines the latest
technology with magical storytelling from creative minds behind such hit franchises as
Shrek, Madagascar and How to Train Your Dragon. DreamPlace reimagines one of the
signature moments of childhood – meeting Santa Claus. This unique and interactive
experience is set to debut in a total of seven locations nationwide owned by both General
Growth Properties, Inc. (NYSE: GGP) and Forest City Enterprises (NYSE: FCE.A).
Tapping into DreamWorks Animation’s stable of world-renowned artists, storytellers and
innovators, DreamPlace enables children to experience the full narrative of an unforgettable
visit to the North Pole, infusing the studio’s trademark storytelling and humor into one of the
greatest legends of all time. Prior to their mall visit, families can make appointments by
app, negating the familiar long lines for Santa before embarking on an unforgettable
adventure, which includes an immersive, eye-popping journey with Shrek and his friends as
they guide children and families to the North Pole. DreamPlace is set to debut this holiday  2
season in major markets nationwide, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas,
Atlanta and Las Vegas.
“An experience with Santa at local shopping malls has been a long-standing tradition for
many families. Thanks to DreamWorks and Santa Claus, this year we’re taking our
youngest guests on an adventure to the North Pole. After the adventure, children will have
more than just the traditional picture with Santa; they’ll have a story to tell for the rest of
their lives. It’s the ultimate experience,” said Melinda Holland, SVP Business Development,
GGP.
“We are thrilled to align with DreamWorks to bring this one-of-a-kind experience to
Westchester’s Ridge Hill in Yonkers, New York and Victoria Gardens in Rancho
Cucamonga, California,” said David LaRue, Forest City president and CEO. “DreamWorks’
creative talent has taken an age-old legend and transformed it to be relevant and appealing
to today’s tech-savvy kids. We are excited that DreamPlace will open at Ridge Hill and
Victoria Gardens. We are also honored that Ridge Hill was chosen to be the only center in
the Northeast this holiday season to offer this outstanding family entertainment.”
DreamPlace will debut this holiday season at the following GGP and Forest City locations:
GGP 
  • –Glendale Galleria – Glendale (Los Angeles), CA
  • –The Parks at Arlington – Arlington (Dallas/Fort Worth), TX
  • –Fashion Show – Las Vegas, NV
  • –North Point Mall – Alpharetta (Atlanta), GA
  • –Oakbrook Center – Oak Brook (Chicago), IL

Forest City Enterprises 

  • –Victoria Gardens – Rancho Cucamonga, CA
  • –Westchester’s Ridge Hill – Yonkers, NY

www.dreamworksanimation.com

Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Announces Architects for Chicago Campus

Joe Kleiman
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Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Announces Architects for Chicago Campus

[quote]We are bringing together some of the top architects in the world to ensure that our museum experience begins long before a visitor ever enters the building.  I am thrilled with the architectural team’s vision for the building and the surrounding green space. I look forward to presenting our design to the Chicago community.” — George Lucas[/quote]

Chicago, IL, USA — Following a global search, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (LMNA) has announced that Beijing-based MAD Architects has been selected as the principal designer for the LMNA site while Chicago-based Studio Gang will design the landscape and create a bridge to connect the LMNA to Northerly Island. VOA Associates, based in Chicago, will serve as the executive architect and lead the implementation of MAD’s design.

The LMNA considered several different architects from around the globe. MAD Architects was chosen because of its innovative approach to design and the firm’s philosophy of connecting urban spaces to natural landscapes. Amsterdam-based UNStudio was the runner-up for the principal design role.

Ma Yansong, the founder of MAD Architects, will be responsible for the design and overall concept of the LMNA building. In seeking to connect the interior and exterior worlds, Mr. Ma has designed some of the most innovative buildings in the world including Absolute Towers in Ontario, Canada, the Ordos Museum in Ordos, China and Chaoyang Park Plaza in Beijing, China.

“It is a gift to be able to design the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in a city so rich with architectural history,” said Mr. Ma, a graduate of the Yale School of Architecture. “I am humbled and honored to be given this opportunity to create a timeless design that moves and inspires people just like Mr. Lucas’ collection.”

To connect the LMNA to neighboring Northerly Island, a bridge will be built by the LMNA, at no cost to the City of Chicago. Jeanne Gang, who has spent the past four years transforming Northerly Island from an airport runway to an oasis of greenery, will design the bridge and lead the landscape design for the LMNA.

“We are excited to build upon our current work and collaborate to create a seamless transition between the Museum Campus and Northerly Island,” said Ms. Gang, a MacArthur Fellow. “In keeping with the Northerly Island ethos, our design goal will be to create a combined ecological and urban habitat.”

VOA Associates, whose designs include Roosevelt University’s 32-story vertical campus in downtown Chicago and the Swedish Embassy in Washington, D.C., will implement Mr. Ma’s design. “We will take the concept design and create a digital sculpture that will serve as the blueprint for construction,” said Michael Toolis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, VOA Associates. “Each aspect of the museum will be digitally created using technology that enables us to test daylight, create interactive models and examine how the design performs in different environments.”

The design for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will be introduced in late 2014.

www.lucasmuseum.org

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