A prestigious professional honor was recently awarded to recognize the innovative design and technology practices that have been used in the development of Enchanted Storybook Castle, currently under construction as the centerpiece of Shanghai Disney Resort’s theme park, Shanghai Disneyland. The American Institute of Architects presented its Technology in Architectural Practice Award to Walt Disney Imagineering for its successful implementation of Building Information Modeling, the process of generating and managing digital representations of structures and facilities.
“As construction of the Shanghai Disney Resort continues on its theme park and associated facility development, we’re constantly defining and redefining themed entertainment with innovation, and we do that not just in the technology behind our attractions, but also in the way we design and develop them,” said Howard Brown, Senior Vice President and Project Development Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering Shanghai. “The Enchanted Storybook Castle is designed with retail, dining, operations and theatrical spaces, and a ride system running through it which marries traditional architectural detailing with modern building technology. It would be hard to imagine designing and building such a complex structure without having one integrated, central, smart model like Building Information Modeling.”
Building Information Modeling facilitated a real time testing and feedback cycle that helped the Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Imagineering Shanghai project teams meet the unique challenges in realizing this complex, multi-use facility. It enabled collaboration using web-based social collaboration, video-telepresence and cloud-based computing which brought together dozens of team members on opposite sides of the globe, and allowed them to reach key project milestones ensuring a successful delivery of Shanghai Disney Resort.
“Our commitment to collaboration, teamwork, and mutual success enables us to create those magical, innovative experiences in a way that only Disney can do,” said David Van Wyk, WDI project management and integration executive. “When the whole organization is thinking about reinforcing each other’s efforts, it allows individuals the ability to focus on what they need to do to accomplish our shared goals. By using BIM processes and technology on this and other projects to be built around the world allow us to work smarter and more efficiently as a team.”
