“Recognizing excellence in the creation of compelling educational, historical and entertainment projects, the TEA’s Thea Awards once again reinforce the value of experience design and themed entertainment approaches to engaging people worldwide,” said TEA International Board President Craig Hanna, of Thinkwell Design & Production as he announced the recipients of the 14th Annual Thea Awards.
Judging of the international awards is made by TEA’s prestigious Thea Awards Nominating Committee, with final approval by the TEA’s International Board of Directors. “These awards recognize large and small accomplishments, bringing to life ancient myths and the latest in scientific discoveries, helping people experience a space shuttle launch or a walk with prehistoric creatures,”
said Hanna.
“These outstanding achievements demonstrate the power that storytelling, architecture, technology and experience design can have on the guest and visitor experience.” The official presentation of the awards will be made March 8, 2008 at TEA’s 14th Thea Awards Gala, sponsored by Economics Research Associates, a very special black tie evening for the industry at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California.
The 14th Annual Thea Awards have singled out for recognition:
- Seven outstanding educational or heritage projects
- Three outstanding projects in theme parks
- Two event spectaculars
- An outstanding application of theater technology
- An attraction in an historic motion picture palace
- An arena-sized traveling dinosaur show
- A military application of Experience design
- One Lifetime Achiever
- One Classic Attraction
- Four outstanding achievements accomplished on limited budgets
Recipients:
- Thea Lifetime Achievement Award: Jack Rouse, Jack Rouse Associates
- Thea Classic Award: SeaWorld, San Diego, CA
- Thea Awards for Outstanding Achievement (AOA)
Attraction: Shuttle Launch Experience, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center, FL
Attraction Limited Budget: Awakening of The Temple Lobby Show, Aztec on the River, San Antonio, TX
Attraction Rehab: Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Disneyland, Anaheim, CA
Exhibit: Noah’s Ark, Skirball Community Center, Los Angeles, CA
Museum: Donald W. Reynolds Education Center, Mount Vernon, VA
Heritage Center: The Generations Center, Western Wall, Jerusalem, Israel
Exhibit Limited Budget: Cleveland Avenue Time Machine Experience, at Troy University’s Rosa Parks Museum
Traveling Exhibit Limited Budget: CSI: The Experience, Fort Worth Museum of Science & History, Ft. worth, TX
Science Center Limited Budget: Cosmos at the Castle, Black Rock Castle, Cork, Ireland
Event Spectacular: Songs of the Sea, Sentosa, Singapore
Live Touring Event: Walking with Dinosaurs, Immersion Edutainment, Australia
Event Spectacular: Peter Pan’s Neverland, Universal Studios Japan
Technical Achievement: KA Floating Stages, Las Vegas, NV
Themed Training Experience: Battle Stations 21, Great Lakes Naval Station,IL
Interactive Adventure: Kim Possible World Showcase Playtest, Epcot, Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL
Details
Jack Rouse, Jack Rouse Associates, Cincinnati, OH
Jack’s formation of the firm that bears his name (with colleagues Keith James and Amy Merrell), in 1987 is a milestone in a multi-faceted career that spans over three decades. Jack Rouse Associates has become one of the most recognized global names in experience design, serving a variety of industries: museums, zoos, sports facilities, theme parks, entertainment complexes, cultural venues, community developments and corporate environments. With Jack’s guidance, JRA has become one of the most respected and creative firms in the world. Jack Rouse is also a much sought after lecturer, panel member and charette participant. He understands not only the mission and messages of his clients, but also the business principles essential for their success.
Thea Classic Award: Sea World, San Diego, CA
Sea World San Diego opened in 1964 on 22 acres on Mission Bay Park with 45 employees, several dolphins, sea lions, and two seawater aquariums. It attracted more than 400,000 visitors in its first year. Today’s annual attendance exceeds 4.2 million and the park has now spread out over more than 189 acres. It is the home of more than 20,000 animals, including 16 species of marine mammals, 430 species of fish, and 100 species of birds. Sea World is known for spectacular animal shows, interactive attractions, aquariums, adventure rides, and outstanding dining facilities. Current owners and operators Anheuser Busch Companies, Inc. purchased the park in 1989.
Awards for Outstanding Achievement
Attraction: Shuttle Launch Experience, Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center
Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A hallmark of the Kennedy Space Center has always been to uphold scholarship through visual communication excellence. The Shuttle Launch Experience begins with this tradition and virtually takes off from there! After a pre-flight briefing, guests board a unique shuttle simulator module that adds a new dimension to the kinetics of motion simulation. The experience is pushed over the top by maximizing the power of suggestion, sensory effects and great storytelling to delivering the heart pounding impression of the journey into space that is experienced by the astronauts. The result leaves guests “wowed” without the usual effects of nausea induced by traditional simulation used to achieve a launch sensation. The kinetic journey is climaxed by a spectacular “Earth reveal,” as the entire ceiling of the shuttle module opens to an encompassing “orbital view” of planet Earth.
Attraction Limited Budget: “Awakening o