AQUARIUS
AQUARIUM AT THE BOARDWALK
PROJECT PROFILE:
Client: Kuvera Partners
Title: Aquarius
Materials: Stainless Steel, Carbon Steel, Fiberglass
Fabrication: Demiurge
Installation: Wilshar Steel
Engineering: Yetiweurks
Location: Aquarium at the Boardwalk; Branson, Missouri
Demiurge collaborated with aquarium developers Kuvera Partners, on this one-of-a-kind sculpture.
The octopus sculpture is built of stainless steel and painted carbon steel, weighs 34 tons and stands 55-feet tall. Panels of polyhedral stainless steel with varying surface textures and finishes make up the skin components. An intricate internal structure of steel coils creates the organic form and provides connections for each of the panels. A fleet of 25 flat-panel freight trucks, extending longer than three football fields, transported the deconstructed art from Colorado to Missouri.
“Kuvera Partners came to us with a fantastical concept,” said Joe Riche, owner and founder of Demiurge, “and during our initial meeting, as they described their expectations and vision, we designed the sculpture in real time using 3D programming. Demiurge really shines when we can enter the process with our client at the concept’s beginning, and this partnership with Kuvera was exceptional.”
“The most challenging part of this project was ensuring that the sculpture remains a true piece of art, regardless of its tremendous scale,” said Riche. “It demanded a strong collaborative approach between the teams. We spent lots of brain time making sure the artistic factor didn’t get lost in the overall size. We’re very proud of the skins, patterns and connections, and all the tiny details that have gone into the overall look.”
Kuvera Partners has a long history of creating attraction exteriors with huge visual impact, including Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center in Branson with its Great Ape climbing skyscrapers adorning the attraction. “We’re in the business of making it fun for our guests,” said Tej Sundher of Kuvera Partners. “We want that to begin even before they enter our doors, which is why our buildings are more than just a structure to house our attractions, they’re part of the experience.”
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ABOUT AQUARIUM AT THE BOARDWALK
Aquarium at the Boardwalk is the first attraction being developed at Branson Boardwalk, a new entertainment complex located at the center of the Highway 76 Entertainment District in Branson, Missouri. The $51 million aquarium focusing on fish and fun is located at 2700 West 76 Country Blvd, Unit A, Branson, MO 65616. www.AquariumattheBoardwalk.com www.BransonBoardwalk.com
ABOUT KUVERA PARTNERS, INC.
Based in Los Angeles, Kuvera Partners is a privately held corporation with interests in the attractions, self-storage and real estate industries. Founded in 1965, the company's history of success is the result of its ongoing research and continual development of resources and relationships. Kuvera was recognized with the Branson Beautification Award in 2011 for transforming an underused length of Highway 76 into a compelling tourist area. The company was also honored with the City’s October 2018 Beautification Award for its compelling landscape and engaging frontage along the 76 Entertainment District.