COHOES – A lot of kids and frankly, a lot of adults think STEM can be boring. That’s probably because they’re not thinking about what companies like ADG or Aquatic Development Group, do with STEM every day.
When you think surfing in a wave pool and floating in a lazy river and when you hear “water park,” you probably don’t think Cohoes. If you’ve been on a vacation with one, chances are pretty good ADG had a part in making it happen.
“One of the largest indoor water park designers and manufacturers in the world and we’ve been doing it since the early 80s,” explained David Savage, the manager of design and engineering.
ADG designs the parks, manufactures the pieces and then puts it all together on site. The resume is pretty impressive. It includes a long list of Six Flags — including Great Escape and Darien Lake, plus parks like Jay Peak, Margaritaville and Dollywood.
The big project right now is The Kartrite. It’s a glass barrel roof indoor water park attached to the new Resorts World Catskills in Monticello.
“A big mezzanine that you can see the entire floor plan. We have slides that go over our surf machines. So it is kind of a 3-D puzzle as to how to fit everything in,” pointed out Travis Kline, the manager of architecture and planning.
It’s all fun when you’re at the park, but it all starts here with STEM. “So as much as the waterpark industry feels like a niche thing, it really is fundamental engineering and planning and architectural work,” explained David Savage. Regan Savage is learning that. He’s a design intern and possibly the next generation.
“You get to see people using those rides, and you’re like, ‘I had a part in that, and that’s pretty cool,'” he admitted.
So the next time you’re on the splash pad or in the wave pool on vacation, tell the kids it all started with STEM in the Spindle City.
