U. S. National Whitewater Center has selected the project team to design and build its new whitewater center, expected to open in late 2005. The facility will be the only multi-channel recirculating whitewater park in the world, and one of only four official U.S. Olympic training centers in the country. It will be located just ten miles west of uptown Charlotte along the Catawba River, and ten miles east of Gastonia, North Carolina.
Jeff Wise, executive director of U.S. National Whitewater Center, announced the selection of Bulla Smith Design Engineering as the lead design consultant and civil/structural engineer; Liquid Design as the architect; ColeJenest & Stone as landscape architect and civil engineering; Recreational Engineering and Planning (REP) as whitewater designers; A.G. Zoutewelle as surveyors; RodgersDooley as general contractors; and Carter Houchins of Richter & Associates as owner’s representative. “Because our organization’s mission involves an emphasis on community partners, all of the selected firms are local except our whitewater designer,” says Wise.
“Our search for the whitewater channel designer included firms from Poland, Czechoslovakia, France and Australia. After a 12-month selection process, we found the most qualified engineering firm was located in Boulder, CO.” REP has designed the vast majority of the whitewater river projects in the U.S. and boasts Scott Shipley as one of their principal engineers. Shipley -- a 3-time Olympian and 4-time world champion kayaker -- brings his masters degree in mechanical engineering, along with Gary Lacey, the nation’s premier whitewater course designer, to serve as the lead designers of the whitewater course.
The local team has equally strong credentials. BullaSmith Design, Liquid Design, ColeJenest & Stone, and Zoutewelle have been involved with the project since its early inception. “This project is unique in that engineering is the major component of the project,” says Wise. “The key to our success will be the perfect merger of the art and function of this sport with the engineering requirements involved in designing the whitewater channels. Bulla Smith as the selected engineers have a strong design emphasis and Liquid Design rounds out the design balance.”
Recently added to the team are Richter & Associates, a Charlotte real estate firm specializing in owner representation and development; and RodgersDooley, a strategic alliance of two Charlotte general contractors, Rodgers Builders and R T Dooley. “This project is part of our alliance’s commitment to work on projects that build a stronger community,” states RodgersDooley principal Pat Rodgers. “The whitewater center will provide jobs both during construction and after the center is opened, one of the many benefits of this project.” Throughout the project, there will be an emphasis on the inclusion of diverse businesses throughout the community.
U.S. National Whitewater Center expects to break ground for the whitewater center in the second half of 2004. The center will be operated by Charlotte Whitewater Park, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The mission of the park is to promote healthy, active lifestyles; advance strong family involvement; develop essential life skills; promote conservation and environmental stewardship; and encourage civic interaction.
U.S. National Whitewater Center