Quality and Innovation

SRO Associates, Inc. is dedicated to excellence in design, construction and finish of our clients' projects. In traditional theatrical work, we draw on many years of experience with high quality, traditional theatrical techniques. What sets us apart is our confidence and competence in developing innovative solutions to the most difficult design and construction challenges. SRO employs some of the most creative technicians, artisans and designers in the business, and we have extensive experience working in difficult environments while creating scenery that is durable for long term installations.

Our support network of associates enables us to manage virtually any design, construction, engineering, mechanization or special effects challenge.

Case Study: "Believe" at Shamu Stadium, Sea World of Texas

By Karen L. Miller

In the summer of 2005, Sea World of Texas presented SRO Associates with the opportunity to bid on the scenic construction for "Believe" to open in March, 2006. We were provided with designer draftings which gave us information about how the set needed to look. SRO engineered the scenery to meet the designer's expectations and SeaWorld's understandably stringent construction and engineering specifications, while staying within the budget allotted for the project. As General Contractor for the project, SRO subcontracted electrical, concrete and metal fabrication for the engineered project, along with fabricating the scenery and managing and coordinating installation of the entire set. We provided a supervisor to be on site at all times to oversee our subcontractors and manage coordination with SeaWorld's trainers to ensure the safety of the workers and the seven killer whales that were in their pools during construction. SRO has extensive experience working with and around animals in construction and show situations. The killer whale is one of the more challenging animals to share a space with. The whales must be protected from danger at all times, including the smallest hazards, even airborne particulates, metal shavings produced by drilling, and stray pieces of hardware that they might ingest. Our workers had to remain safe from the whales at all times also, as the whales are potentially dangerous and unpredictable animals. All of this meant planning our work with the trainers so that the whales were moved to a different pool when we were working over the water.

In addition to these challenges, we were presented with a physical conundrum. Among other pieces, the set featured a 100 foot wide by 40 foot high aluminum "Whale Tail" scenic unit which had to be brought into the venue, over the water, and installed safely in place. This would not have been such a big issue if the stadium hadn't had a roof with a height clearance of about 23 feet at the perimeter. Working with our engineer, our metal fabricators, and the crane company, our solution was to build the "Whale Tail" in 3 parts: a central portion with arch attached, and two wing portions. We attached its scenic vinyl covering in advance. Then, over the course of 21 straight hours, we painstakingly eased the central portion into its position under the roof, at times using 2 cranes simultaneously. We continued the next few days permanently installing the central unit, attaching the "wing" portions of the tail and seaming the vinyl from manlifts over the main show pool The "Whale Tail" in its final position plays at a 30 degree angle, and while it appears to be supported by its center arch, it is actually cantilevered from the concrete ring of the stadium roof with 15 engineered support pipes...

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