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K. F. Moffett, editor, Waterpark Report
The February 14 collapse of the massive concrete roof of Transvaal Park indoor water complex in southwestern Moscow, which killed 27 people and injured more than 100, is being investigated by Amusement Leisure Worldwide, a Calgary-based designer and supplier of waterparks, theme parks, and hotel and resort industries.
An expert in the waterpark industry, Amusement Leisure Worldwide (ALW) had already been working with the State Committee of the Russian Federation for Construction and Municipal Complexes to establish a joint memorandum that would promote the expansion of the waterpark industry in the Russian market. Additionally, the joint memorandum would address issues of safe park operations, new construction technologies, design developments, and the creation of standards for the development of the entertainment industry in Russia.
According to David Orr, president of Amusement Leisure Worldwide, “Our goal is to move the waterpark industry forward in the Russian marketplace and to help the Russians learn from this tragedy so that it does not recur. It is extremely disappointing that it has taken a tragedy such as this to instigate an increased focus on the importance of safety.”
The licenses of Sergei Kiselyov & Partners architectural firm, which designed Transvaal Park, and Turkish construction firm Kocak Insaat Ltd., which was the general contractor, have been frozen until the cause of the accident can be determined. Officials speculate that the reinforced concrete roof, the size of a football field, could have caved in because of defective construction or a maintenance problem. More than 300 people were in the pool area, just below the roof, at the time of the collapse.
According to ALW CEO Bruce Dalen, because of the construction boom that is occurring in Eastern Europe, many companies are skimping on quality materials as they rush to build entertainment complexes for an enthusiastic new middle class. He says that he witnessed similar safety lapses in China just a few years ago.
“When the client is unsophisticated, it’s easy for a construction company to sell an inferior product. It appears money saving for the client in the short term, but the reality is that the product will often suffer and break down, perhaps becoming a safety concern, and it will have to be replaced.”
Dalen says that ALW has already replaced some equipment for a Chinese waterpark that was only three or four years old, though quality equipment should last 25 years.
Amusement Leisure Worldwide’s goal, he says, is to encourage safer standards for new construction of waterparks and other facilities in the burgeoning Eastern European markets. Because ALW had been working along these lines, and had overseen the development of several indoor water-themed attractions in Russia already, it was natural for the Russian construction minister to turn to the company when the Transvaal tragedy occurred. It will put together a team of engineers to investigate, he says.
“A client needs to know what it’s looking for, why it’s worth it to pay more,” he says. “New construction companies often don’t have the necessary experience with technologies. They’ve just seen some pictures.”
He adds that in developing markets “everyone’s in a hurry,” describing a layered, convoluted scene of many different parties involved in the project, with everyone collecting money. By the time the project gets to the general contractor, he wants to make money too, and sometimes cuts corners to do so.
Dalen says that ALW sees “a lot of potential” in the Russian market and has opened an office in Geneva to facilitate ongoing development in the region. He says the company has five projects in the works currently.
Transvaal Park was built in only 18 months and opened for visitors in September 2002. The complex was capable of hosting up to 2,000 people at one time and was equipped with a number of swimming pools and attractions, including two 82-meter slides and a 120-meter water tube. It also had a flow rider, which allowed visitors to surf artificial waves.
The massive domed roof went unsupported for 50 meters. According to Dalen, there might have been humidity issues involved in its collapse. Even before the Valentine’s Day tragedy, at least two people had died at Transvaal Park, one from heart failure, another from injuries to the spine sustained on an attraction called the Cyclone. Dalen says that ALW had been asked to replace that attraction.
“We want to encourage Russian officials to raise the bar,” regarding safety issues, he says.
Correction
In February’s Waterpark Report, Whitewater was mistakenly given credit for designing Silverwood’s new waterpark. It was actually Rocky Mountain Amusements that executed the design of the park.
