Transforming the Hyatt Regency Lobby Fountain
The challenge was clear: Run 3 trains, 24 hours a day, 60 consecutive days, 1 inch above water. Mission Accomplished.
When the Hyatt Regency San Francisco wanted to transform their lobby, which happens to be in Embarcadero Center's building 5, in the largest atrium in the world, they turned to MOE TRAINS to build an exceptional G-Scale railroad.
The railroad quickly became a showcase for the community, and received rave reviews in the San Francisco Examiner:
The Hyatt Regency San Francisco is now decked for the holidays, including 300,000 cascading lights, a G-Scale train from MOE TRAINS, running through a snow village and a stunning 30-foot tree. Snow falls in the lobby three times a day through December 31.
Unique Installation Environment
This installation had some unique challenges, which made the success all the more sweet. First, this railway was designed to run on top of the icon indoor fountain. Running just an inch above the water, and a few feet off the floor meant being in the direct line of sight and within arms reach of children. Extra care was given to the construction, stability and security of the display platform, allowing this seasonal installation one of the most accessible in the city.
Unlike most businesses the hotel lobby is never closed, which means that the trains needed to be operating 24 hours a day throughout the display season. We took exceptional care to design and maintain the system, including the creation of a custom 6-channel controller that allowed us to run 3 trains simultaneously on the same track. All of the maintenance was done while running, using our custom made track cleaning car.
References and Appreciation
We invite you to contact us anytime at 510-452-4915 to see how your business can become a seasonal attraction for your guests. We also think it is important to offer thanks to those that have helped make this display such a wild success:
- Kermit Paul (engineered the controller circuit)
- Chuck Kent (helped install the track)