UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2002 Winter Olympics in
Salt Lake City will be declared open with the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron
in Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium -- a Cauldron designed by Universal City,
CA-based WET Design.
"Not many companies get this kind of make-it-or-break-it moment in front
of millions of people," noted President and CEO Mark Fuller. "While it's very
exciting, I will definitely breathe a sigh of relief when it's all over."
Realized by WET designers Jim Doyle and Tim Hunter, the 130-foot glass
Cauldron and tower epitomize the "Light the Fire Within" theme of the Games by
enabling the entire Olympic flame to be seen within the transparent chalice.
Water will cool the glass and keep it clean, making it possible to view the
flame at its point of origin. Inspired by the area's jagged peaks and the
Game's snowflake logo, the Cauldron's colors are reminiscent of the vast
mountains and deserts of Utah.
WET Design was awarded the commission based on a range of concepts as well
as their extensive portfolio of projects utilizing fire and water.
World renowned as a leading design firm, WET Design has a history of
creating striking works -- some of their most recognizable include the
choreographed fountains at the Bellagio in Las Vegas as well as water
expressions at the Barcelona World Trade Center in Barcelona, Spain; Epcot
Center and Disney Village Marketplace in Orlando, Florida; the Los Angeles
Music Center, California; Navy Pier in Chicago and a breathtaking water and
fire display at Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia.
"You only get one chance with the Olympic Games," noted Fuller. "But when
we see the look on everyone's face when that Cauldron lights, the
year-and-a-half of hard work and effort will be worth it."
Mark W. Fuller is President/CEO of WET Design. He is responsible for
creative conceptualization, design, business development and administration of
the Company.
Prior to establishing WET(R) in 1983, Mark spent six years working with
WED Enterprises (now Walt Disney Imagineering), a division of the Walt Disney
Company. During this time, he managed and directed the creation of more than
500 individual special effects for Disneyland's New Fantasyland, Tokyo
Disneyland and EPCOT Center, Walt Disney World.
Mark received an Honors Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering at
the University of Utah, as well as a Masters degree in engineering and product
design and a minor in business management from Stanford University.
Jim Doyle is Director of Technical Resources at WET Design. Working
closely with the project managers, designers and engineers, Jim is responsible
for providing input and direction on specialty technical applications.
Jim holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatrical Production with a Minor
in Physics from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He received an Academy
Award in Technical Achievement in 1992 for the development of Liquid Nitrogen
Fog Systems.
With more than three-dozen feature films to his credit, Jim is a veteran
special effects technician. His themed entertainment credits include: Cirque
du Soleil; Tama Center of Tokyo, Japan; Universal Studios California and
Florida, as well as Rio Hotel, Desert Inn, Mirage Hotel and Treasure Island in
Las Vegas, Nevada.
In addition, Jim has supervised special effects for more than 100 music
videos and television commercials.
Tim Hunter joined WET Design in 1998 and became a Senior Project Designer
in 1999. Tim is responsible for designing and overseeing the development of a
select number of WET's projects during their conceptual and design development
phases.
Tim has designed water features for numerous projects including the
Olympics 2002 and The Gateway, both in Salt Lake City and Water Tower Place in
Chicago as well as projects in the United States, Puerto Rico, United Arab
Emirates and Japan. Tim developed kinetic programs for several of WET's
choreographed water features including Tung Chung in Hong Kong, Burj Al Arab
in Dubai and the Millennium Celebration at Seattle Center.
Tim graduated from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) with a Bachelor of
Fine Art in industrial design.
Claire Kahn Tuttle began work at WET Design in 1985. She is currently a
Principal with the Firm and is responsible for the design review, approval and
direction of all of WET Design's work, including the Olympic Cauldron.
In her fifteen years with the Firm, Claire has personally designed a
number of water feature projects, including the Los Angeles Music Center
fountain in Los Angeles; Victoria Peak in Hong Kong; the Gas Company Tower in
Los Angeles; Barcelona World Trade Center in Barcelona; Anggana Danamon in
Jakarta, Indonesia and The Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas.
Throughout her career, Claire has been engaged in fine art and design
commissions, including work in textile, pattern, color, and graphic design
treatments for commercial and select residential projects.
Claire graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Arts degree
in design and was the recipient of the University's Humanities Award.
For further information, please contact, Melissa Spraul of The MWW Group
for WET Design, +1-213-486-6560, or visit http://www.wetdesign.com .
SOURCE WET Design
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Related links:
http://www.wetdesign.com
CONTACT:
Melissa Spraul of The MWW Group,
+1-213-486-6560, for WET Design
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