City of Dreams, The House of Dancing Water Theater

Working with Pei Partnership, we designed this 1,985-seat circus-based theatre-in-the-round for Franco Dragone’s newest water-based show, The House of Dancing Water. The show, featuring acrobats, aerialists, high divers, and specialty acts in the world’s largest commercial pool, required unique and unconventional planning and equipment design to overcome the challenges associated with immersing state-of-the-art theatrical equipment into water. Eight 10-ton hydraulic elevators allow the conversion of the 65-foot diameter center performance area from water to a solid floor, and high-speed overhead winches move performers and scenery through space in a 3-D visual ballet. We played a central role in creating an intimate audience experience through a sweeping 270-degree design plan that allows the audience an up-close and personal view of the performance.
City of Dreams, The House of Dancing Water Theater Case Study