Cirque du Soleil
A Birdair architectural fabric membrane is tensioned out over this 70,000 square-foot contemporary building, lending a real "circus tent" look to Cirque Du Soleil Walt Disney World.
Fabric Type: PTFE Fiberglass
Market Sector: Entertainment / Leisure
Project Size: 14,000 sq.ft.
Architect: Glover Smith Bode, Inc & FTL Design Engineering Studio
Engineer: Walter P. Moore Tampa, FL
Owner: Lake Buena Vista Communities, Inc
General Contractor: Clark Construction Company
Completion Date: November 20, 1998
Designed and built by Birdair in 1998, the building’s exterior is wrapped in a PTFE-coated fiberglass membrane, a durable, weather-resistant material that mimics the iconic white circus tent form with a contemporary twist. The translucent fabric façade-like structure comprises multiple uniquely shaped membrane panels tensioned using large structural cables and catenary edges, creating dynamic curves and surface planes that both define the volume and manipulate natural light lending a real "circus tent" look to Cirque Du Soleil Walt Disney World. The "tent" which is highly detailed and allows inside illumination, reflects the imagination of Walt Disney World as well as the creative performances of Cirque Du Soleil. The fabric skin is composed of seven unique fields which vary in scale and dimension to manipulate the interstitial space between the building and outdoors and to provide passive solar shading for the building.
The 14,000 sq.ft of Teflon-coated fabric serves not just as cladding but as an integral part of the building’s identity, referencing the transitory lightness of circus tents while supported by a robust structural system beneath. This tensioned fabric “skin” bridges indoor and outdoor spaces, establishing a memorable landmark that’s simultaneously familiar and futuristic. The result -- a performance space where engineering ingenuity and artistic vision converge, anchoring Disney Springs with an iconic form that celebrates movement, light, and spectacle.
