Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium in New York’s Times Square
PRG makes even impossible challenges look easy.
Challenge:
Fill a museum full of one-of-a-kind wonders, safely and on time.
Solution:
Times Square’s newest attraction, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium, thrills crowds with its vast display of wonders from around the world. Each of the treasures — from a 1,000-pound supercrocodile skeleton to a four-legged chicken — was carefully and solidly set into place by PRG’s Themed Attractions & Construction Group.
“Ripley’s is a different kind of museum, with a lot of interactivity for the kids and things going on for adults, so installation is a big, important part of making the experience come alive,” says David Neithardt, franchisee for the Ripley’s New York museum. “In addition to their knowledge of local codes, PRG had the experience with thematic installations as well as the resources to get the job done safely and on time.”
PRG installed the exhibits as the museum literally was being constructed around them, says Sue Lennon, project manager for the company. PRG engineered and built the structural elements that secured a section of Berlin Wall and other massive artifacts, provided the rigging, unloaded the exhibits and moved them into place, hung exhibits from ceilings and walls, and completed the fine finishing details that made every exhibit look as if it had always been just where it appears.
“Each exhibit presented a case-by-case challenge, and PRG did a good job of solving each one,” Neithardt adds. “They were a pleasure to work with; they made everything look great — and they didn’t break a thing.”
