Second retractable enclosure allows for year-round al fresco dining
Posted
07/6/2011
WaTiki Indoor Water Park Resort in Rapid City, S.D., has not
one, but two ways for guests to enjoy the park year-round. In
addition to the 130- by 150-foot retractable roof waterpark
enclosure completed by OpenAire Inc., Oakville, Ontario, Canada, in
2006, a second sunlit space has been added. Slider's Bar and Grill
now has its own OpenAire enclosure with retractable panels and
sidewalls that offer patio-style dining.
Opened on New Year's Eve 2010, the restaurant seats 210 people
in a space that's airy, welcoming and flexible. Diners can enjoy
natural light and great outdoor views in warm, dry comfort, and
when summer arrives, the restaurant's bar area turns into a
sun-filled patio with lots of fresh, warm air and a wonderful
outdoor atmosphere by opening up the OpenAire enclosure.
"The benefits of the year-round usage and the
flexibility of OpenAire's solution made them a natural fit when we
were looking at options for adding a restaurant to the resort
complex," says Donnie Patton, co-owner of WaTiki Indoor Water Park
Resort. "Plus we had such a positive experience working with them
on the waterpark, it just made sense to bring them back."
Adding on to the existing structure was challenging due to site
constraints. But because OpenAire solutions are completely flexible
and fully customizable, the company was able to make it look like a
simple connection once the work was complete.
"WaTiki is just one example of OpenAire's ability to adapt an
enclosure to any space," says Dave Bolwerk, vice president, sales
and marketing at OpenAire. "They had a vision, and we were able to
work with them to build an enclosure that was exactly what they
were looking for. When owners and architects involve us in the
planning stages, we can help them achieve their goals, and present
them with flexible, innovative options that meet their specific
needs."
The retractable roof enclosure over the bar area of the
restaurant measures 62 by 52 feet, with a soaring ceiling height of
36 feet at its highest point. The roof structure includes a
combination of operable and stationary panels mostly glazed with
clear polycarbonate. The design also incorporates a 5-inchthick
insulated metal roof system to shade diners from the sun on
particularly sunny days, and contributes to the clean, contemporary
look of the structure.
As part of the second project, OpenAire also incorporated a
striking new entrance to the waterpark, with an enclosed stairwell
that welcomes visitors and provides a great first impression to new
guests. The overall look of the park is welcoming, airy and open,
and the new restaurant and entryway extend the appeal of the space,
offering visitors even more enjoyment.
Open Aire Inc., www.openaire.com, Circle #58
www.openaire.com