At the World Waterpark Association (WWA) Show in New Orleans, Louisiana, Vancouver-headquartered water theme park attractions design/build company, WhiteWater, was honoured with three Leading Edge Awards for its innovation and creativity in two Canadian projects, and one international project.
The projects and their detailed descriptions follow:
- Studio City Water Park in Macau, China.
- Island Waterpark at Showboat in Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
- Pirates Cove Aquapark at the MSC Seascape, by Mississauga-based MSC Cruises,
Through thoughtful design, unique theming, and exciting attractions, these projects demonstrate new possibilities in the world of leisure.
Studio City Water Park
When space travel meets Art Deco
Having won a Leading Edge Award in 2021 for its outdoor park, Studio City’s indoor water park opened as part of the entertainment complex’s expansion in 2023. Housed in Art Deco architecture, the most iconic feature of the water park is the set of water slides protruding outside. The slides shine with custom metallic finishes in warm colours that blend into the esthetic of the building. Inside, the water park tells a story of space travel, with WhiteWater’s play structure, AquaPlay 1050, dubbed as a “Command Center,” and WhiteWater’s 12 slides taking guests through sci-fi fun. One of the most popular attractions in this water park is the Infinity Master Blaster, a one-of-its-kind water coaster that takes riders through exhilarating uphill blasts and mega drops on a continuous loop tour around the water park.
Island Waterpark
Bringing family entertainment to a storied location
Across 9,290 m2 (100,000 sf) of indoor space at the Island Waterpark at Showboat Hotel, multiple WhiteWater’s attractions make their mark: 11 action-packed slides, a FlowRider Double, and two aquatic play structures. The centrepiece of the park is AquaForms 12, a highly configurable elevated AquaForms that boasts 280 ft (85 m) of paths to explore, 55 play features, and a 1600-L (318-gal) tipping bucket.
Pirates Cove Aquapark
An adventure on high seas
Pirates Cove Aquapark, on board the MSC Seascape, mixes WhiteWater’s wet and dry attractions, featuring AquaPlay 150, six slides, and an adventure trail—all tied together by the pirate theme, with an imposing hand-carved giant Kraken serving as a tower. To make the Giant AquaTube a more repeatable experience over the duration of the ship’s itinerary, it is equipped with a sound and light package to make the ride different every time.
“The success of these projects demonstrates how water parks and aquatic amenities play a strategic role in the hospitality sector to attract families and draw repeat visitors,” says Doug Smith, WhiteWater’s global head of sales. “They also show what high professionalism and great collaboration between teams, clients, and partners can achieve, so we are grateful for everyone involved.”
