Universal Studios (If I Ran the Zoo)

Four factors made this installation exceptionally difficult: it is underwater play; it sits on a thick cushion base; much of the surface is installed in a dish shape; and it lives in one of the most highly-trafficked theme parks in the world. The client had experienced premature failure from previous rubber products, which either couldn’t handle the chemical demands of a submerged application or were installed too loosely and tore apart under the shearing force of foot traffic on the dish-shaped approach angles. Competing rubber systems were lasting roughly six months in this uniquely demanding environment. Because of the dish shape of the moat play area, tile-based safety surfacing couldn’t contour to the difficult angles. Poured-in-place surfacing was the only viable option. The client opted for the Resilion system, which addressed both failure modes: A submersible alternative to SBR buffings for the cushioned base layer. Standard SBR buffings degrade rapidly underwater; our alternative delivers long-term, impact-attenuating cushioning in submerged water play — something most underwater-rated products can’t offer at all, as few include a cushion option. Tightly-knit compaction through the Resilion-certified installation process. The moat’s dish shape forces foot traffic to land at an angle rather than perpendicular to the surface, multiplying shear forces. Installation quality — specifically compaction density — is what determines whether a surface survives this. Four years in, there has been slight shrinking between the color design pours, requiring some patching repair — an effect accelerated in this installation by the cushion base coupled with the long-term submerged chlorine exposure. The system remains beautiful and fully functional, with no replacement on the horizon: roughly 8x the lifespan of the competing systems, and counting. The underwater moat is surrounded by more typical cushioned dry play, creating a fun, maze-themed experience. Resilion’s extremely bright, fade-resistant custom colors add to the otherworldly storybook-fantasy environment. Projects like this are why we welcome the most challenging applications for the Resilion system.