By Karen Gentry | MiBizRothbury, Mich. (January 22, 2007) - The design and construction of Double JJ Resort’s new five-story, 60,000-square-foot waterpark that opened late last year was a new experience for the West Michigan companies involved in the project.The waterpark’s design was coordinated by Muskegon-based Hooker DeJong Architects & Engineers and constructed by Rockford Construction Co. It’s the first waterpark for both companies.Although Rockford Construction and Hooker DeJong have built and designed pools, the waterpark presented numerous challenges, according to Rockford Construction Project Manager Pete Michell and Hooker DeJong Project Architect Alan Majeski.“It was a very aggressive, fast-track schedule,” Michell told MiBiz.He said the design of the waterpark was evolving while under construction and because it was a pool environment, everything had to be either galvanized or epoxy coated.Majeski said all connections were designed to be bolted together and 10-foot trusses were used every 100 feet to eliminate the number of posts.“The biggest challenge was all the different levels, one built into the ground with slides weaving and curving through the building,” Majeski told MiBiz.Mechanical aspects were complicated, with the park requiring a very large dehumidification system. Controlling temperature and humidity in a structure that is 50 feet high is complex.Hooker DeJong also coordinated the work of other designers, inclu-ding Boston-based waterpark designer Northeast Aquatics and Toronto-based Proslide, a tube designer. A kitchen consultant and an interior designer also were part of the team.Majeski said he has been involved in the project for about three years, with the first year- and-a-half spent in planning, budgeting and design.“It was a unique experience that took a lot of coordination. I don’t think a lot of architects have done waterparks,” Majeski said.Rockford Construction was putting the finishing touches on the Double JJ project the first week of January, including wrapping up work on a new Italian restaurant.“It (the waterpark) went over fantastic. We were really full. It’s nice to have an indoor activity where the whole family can have a great time,” Double JJ Co-owner Joan Lipsitz told MiBiz.Last summer Rockford Construction also finished Phase 1 of the Thoroughbred Suites on the Double JJ property. Thoroughbred features 68 condominium suites, most of which have already been sold. Future construction plans include at least 100 more units in Thoroughbred. They are slated for construction this spring.Lipsitz said the infrastructure is in the ground for a planned conference frontier center that will include a banquet room with seating for 500 guests, a dinner theater and spa. The structure will feature a restaurant with a mechanical bull.COPYRIGHT 2007. MIBIZ.ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.This article appeared in the June 15, 2007 issue of MiBiz, read by upper management executives in West and Southwest Michigan. Print subscriptions are free to qualified individuals who are employed in West and Southwest Michigan. For further information about MiBiz, visit www.mibiz.com.