Project Overview

The 3-D Animated Spiderman Ride at Universal Studios Orlando is a cutting-edge attraction that combines 3-D animation with advanced ride technology. This $9.1 million project showcases innovative design and construction methods in theme park attractions.

Project Scope

As the Construction Manager at Risk, our responsibilities included:

• Design and construction involvement
• Construction of a 50,000 s.f. building housing the ride
• Installation of high technology systems for visual and sound effects
• Implementation of 3-D animation and computer-controlled ride vehicles
• Integration of special effects including fires, explosions, deluges, and flying effects
• Installation of continuous reel films and high-speed 70-mm movie projectors
• Design and construction of themed load and unload sections
• Development of an interactive 3D model for technical reviews

Key Features:

• 3-D animated ride with gyrating, undulating, and pulsating computer-controlled vehicles
• Continuous reel films synchronized with sound, controlled by a bank of computers
• Multiple sets of twin, high-speed 70-mm movie projectors with precision timing
• 3-D scenes projected on both flat and curved I-Max-sized surfaces
• Themed load and unload sections designed as a newsroom with banks of televisions
• Special effects including fires, explosions, deluges, and flying

Technical Specifications

• Capacity: 2400 people per hour
• Operating hours: Average 14 hours per day, 365 days per year
• Ride cycle: 18 seconds
• Annual cycles for all action equipment and effects: 1,022,000
• Availability rate: 99.2%

Construction Approach

• Design/Build and Construction Management methodology
• Continuous analysis of facility geometry requirements to adjust to evolving system design
• Development of an interactive 3D model for team technical reviews
• Focus on integrating production equipment with facility design
• Emphasis on maintaining design intent while balancing diverse disciplines