Kalahari Resorts — Aquadome Waterpark Expansion
- Location
- Wisconsin Dells, WI
- Project Type
- Indoor Waterpark Expansion
- Mechanical Contractor
- J.F. Ahern Co.
- Mechanical Engineer
- EXP
Project Overview
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions expanded its Wisconsin Dells destination with the Aquadome, an $85 million, 75,000-square-foot addition to its indoor waterpark. An OpenAire enclosure with a retractable roof brings daylight into the space and allows an open-air experience when weather permits. Inside, family raft rides, racing slides, the Watering Hole pool, Adventure Bay children’s attractions and The Grotto swim-up bar create a new setting for year-round resort recreation.
The Challenge
Indoor waterparks bring together warm, moisture-laden air, active pools and changing occupancy. Supplying outdoor air to these spaces is an important part of ventilation, but conditioning that air also requires energy. The Aquadome’s movable roof adds another design consideration: the space can be fully enclosed during cold or wet weather and opened during suitable conditions. Its ventilation application therefore calls for attention to outdoor-air delivery and energy use in a distinctive aquatic environment.
Masters Solution
Masters supplied Innovent energy-recovery makeup air handlers to provide ventilation for the waterpark expansion, along with AAON RN makeup air units with hot gas reheat. The Innovent equipment brings outdoor air into the space and recovers energy from outgoing air to temper the incoming airstream. The AAON RN equipment adds makeup air capability with hot gas reheat, allowing air to be reheated after cooling and moisture removal. Together, the confirmed equipment scope addresses outdoor-air delivery, energy recovery and reheat for the expansion’s aquatic environment.