Prominent Players
Pointe*Anaheim Selects
Design-Build Team
A team of architectural, engineering and construction professionals has been tapped to provide design-build services for Pointe*Anaheim, a retail, dining, entertainment and hotel complex to be built directly across from Disneyland. Lead developer for the project is WAM Development Group. The design-build team will be led by MBK Construction Ltd. of Irvine, California and M.A. Mortenson Company.
“One of the most important criteria in selecting this team was having an Orange County-based firm at its helm,” says WAM Development Group’s Robert Shelton, project manager for the pre-development phase of Pointe*Anaheim. “Our commitment to this goal starts at the top, with the selection of Irvine-based MBK.”
MBK is Orange County’s third largest general contractor and one of the nation’s leading builders of entertainment/retail/theater projects. The firm is the U.S. development and construction arm of Mitsui & Co. Ltd. During the preconstruction phase of Pointe*Anaheim, Al Schafer, president of MBK, will serve as the design-build manager.
M.A. Mortenson, based in Minneapolis and maintaining offices in Ontario and Santa Monica, has operations in 40 states and two foreign countries. The company is currently building the $175-million Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles and was responsible for the construction of the $303-million Los Angeles Convention Center, the first phase of the Anaheim Convention Center, and the $95-million reconstruction of the Northridge Fashion Center.
The Jerde Partnership architectural firm of Venice, California will continue to serve as the project’s lead design firm. In addition to the preliminary designs for Pointe*Anaheim, Jerde has designed such well-known facilities as Fashion Island in Newport Beach, Horton Plaza in San Diego, Main Place Mall in Santa Ana, Universal CityWalk in Universal City, and the new Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.
Newport Beach, California-based Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo will join Jerde in designing Pointe*Anaheim’s three hotels. Irvine and Los Angeles-based Langdon Wilson will serve as the executive architect to manage, direct and participate in the collaborative efforts of the design team as well as prepare detailed construction drawings.
If everything continues according to plan, Pointe*Anaheim developers hope to break ground early in 2000 and anticipate opening the complex by mid-2000.
For more information, contact Jim Kelly, WAM Development Group, 714-740-4780.
Mussenden Promoted to President at Universal Studios Escape
|
|
Felix Mussenden, previously executive vice president, attractions, Universal Studios Escape in Orlando, Florida, has been promoted to president and chief operating officer, Universal Studios Escape. Universal Studios Escape includes the existing Universal Studios Florida; the new Universal Studios Islands of Adventure; Universal Studios CityWalk, a 30-acre entertainment complex featuring themed restaurants, nightclubs, shops and a 20-screen 5,000-seat movie megaplex; hotel accomodations; and expanded film and television production facilities. |
Prior to his appointment as executive vice president, attractions, Universal Studios Escape in 1996, Mussenden served as executive vice president and general manager, Universal Studios Hollywood. He joined Universal in 1972 in park operations and held numerous management positions. Universal Studios (www.univeralstudios.com) is a unit of The Seagram Company Ltd. (NYSE: VO - news), a global entertainment and beverage company.
For more information, contact Universal Studios Escape, 407-363-8000.
Jefferson Eliot to Head New Technifex Design Department
|
|
Jefferson Eliot has been appointed creative director of
Technifex, Inc., a Valencia, California-based design and production company. Eliot will head up Technifex’s newly created design department where he will be responsible for setting creative direction for the company’s new themed entertainment shows and special effects. |
Prior to joining Technifex, Eliot developed concepts for theme parks, urban entertainment centers, attractions and restaurants as owner of Jefferson Eliot Concept Design. Among his works are Star City Theme Park, Singapore; Open Sesame Park for Children’s Television Network; Sci-Fi SPFX Miniature Golf, Australia. He also wrote and art directed a short film for the Museum of the Cherokee Indian; special effects and multi-media for the piece were produced by Technifex. Additionally, he has served as chief concept designer and executive art director for Landmark Entertainment Group, production designer on Shelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre, and director of visual effects for Captain Power, widely regarded as the world’s first interactive TV series.
Technifex is a design and production company that specializes in creating one-of-a-kind audience experiences incorporating water, fire, projection, video and mechanical effects. Its team of designers can create everything from a single special effect to an entire production. The company’s client list includes retail establishments, theme parks, museums, world exhibitions, casinos and trade shows worldwide. Recent projects include the Apollo/Saturn V Visitor Center at NASA Kennedy Space Center; Star Trek: The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton; and Seuss Landing at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure™. To learn more about the company, visit its Web site at www.Technifex.com.
For more information, contact Jefferson Eliot, creative director, Technifex, Inc., 805-294-3800.
New Prez at Lyle Parks Jr.
|
|
Lyle Parks Jr. Inc. (LPJ), a commercial, retail and entertainment construction company based in Anaheim, California, named Tim Mayeda as its president. Mayeda has been the company’s chief operating officer since 1996 and will retain that position. He will continue to spearhead the firm’s innovative use of technology in addition to overseeing its finance, marketing, operations and estimating functions. |
Mayeda facilitated the creation of Partner-Build™, a proprietary construction management program designed to address the specific needs of the fast-paced retail and entertainment industries by involving all players in the pre-construction phase. Mayeda also spearheaded implementation of the firm’s state-of-the-art video conferencing system, which allows instantaneous, interactive communication between team members as well as the transmission of plans, computer files and video images between LPJ’s headquarters, client offices, the architectural firm, and the job site.
Before joining LPJ in 1989, Mayeda managed projects nationwide for R.D. Olson Construction. During his 20-year career in the industry, Mayeda has specialized in entertainment, retail and hospitality construction.
Lyle Parks Jr. Inc. completed 9.6 million sq.ft. of construction in the past five years. The company is known for its work in complex, mixed-use developments that combine entertainment and retail venues.
For more information, contact Tim Mayeda, president, Lyle Parks Jr. Inc., 714-632-3210.
Downtown New Jersey
Honors Houstoun
|
|
Lawrence O. Houstoun, a principal in the Atlantic Group, a consulting group based in Cranberry, New Jersey, received the Holly Whyte Award from Downtown New Jersey, Inc. The award, named for the legendary urbanist William “Holly” Whyte, is given to individuals who epitomize the vision and dedication necessary to bring about positive change in New Jersey’s downtowns. It is awarded only when a worthy candidate is identified and agreed upon by the Downtown New Jersey Board of Directors. |
In announcing the award, a statement from DNJ reads: “Larry has been a leader, and a strong voice, in creating the consensus in the NJ State Legislature to create the legislation which enabled the special improvement districts in New Jersey. He recognized the need to have a downtown constituency in New Jersey and was one of the founders of Downtown New Jersey over ten years ago. Through his writing, he continues to focus the issues which affect the success of downtowns both in New Jersey and nationally. Recently, the Urban Land Institute published his definitive book on business improvement districts in the United States. Professionally, as a principal in the Atlantic Group, Larry Houston has contributed to the success of many New Jersey downtown urban districts. These include Newark, Long Branch, Maplewood, Millburn. On the national level, Larry has been involved in the revitalization of Jacksonville, FL, Washington, DC, and Philadelphia’s Center City. His voice continues to shape the national dialogue on successful downtown revitalization in New Jersey, and nationally.”
Down New Jersey is a nonprofit, membership-based organization which has as its mission the economic and cultural support of downtowns — large and small — throughout New Jersey. It offers educational opportunities to the volunteers and professional staff of downtown revitalization organizations, provides recognition for best practices in New Jersey’s downtowns, provides advocacy for downtown issues in Trenton, and maintains the network of downtown advocates.
For more information, contact Lawrence Houstoun, 609-655-5328; Downtown New Jersey, 908-218-7778.