May 26, 2017

Tenant improvement
Over $5 million (tie)

Photo courtesy of W.G. Clark Construction

W.G. Clark installed the Wings Over Washington ride on a century-old pier that sways in rough weather.

Wings Over Washington flying ride

Location: Seattle

This highly complex renovation at Pier 57 on the Seattle waterfront was for the addition of the flying-ride attraction Wings Over Washington.

The project team consisted of architects, above-pier structural engineers, below-pier structural engineers, marine contractors, audio visual, movie screen design, ride mechanical fabricator, interior designers, acoustical engineers, film producers, animatronics and more.

W.G. Clark completed the renovation of the pier, structural modifications and additions, additional show and facility rooms and mezzanines, and specialty wood finishes throughout the ride areas and theater. Manson Construction completed all below-pier structural modifications to support the ride.

This project presented many unique challenges for W.G. Clark and its project team members. For example, the project is located on an over-100-year-old pier where nothing is plumb or level. It sways as much as 6 inches in heavy weather.

This was the most compact installation of a “flying ride” ever attempted, so substantial field engineering and site-specific adaptations had to be communicated throughout the project team. W.G. Clark took a lead role in facilitating this exchange of information and coordination among the multiple ride vendors, design teams, building inspectors and subcontractors to keep the project moving forward with a minimum of delays or cost impacts.

“Our job was a complicated and difficult job which required excellent communications and planning,” said Pier 57 General Manager Kyle Griffith. “We had a compressed time line and many trades working together. W.G. Clark did a terrific job on the Wings Over Washington ride project.”

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