Answers in Genesis, the organization behind the construction of the massive full-scale Noah’s Ark, has stated that the project will take full advantage of the latest environmental technologies to be good stewards of creation. The 500ft-long wooden ark is expected to become the largest timber-frame structure in the US.
The $150 million biblical theme park will feature a replication of Noah’s Ark built according to the dimensions given in the Book of Genesis. The latest trends in ‘green’ architecture will be incorporated in it. Mike Zovath, senior vice president of Answers in Genesis, has stated that Ark Encounter will be built by integrating environmentally sustainable technology ‘from Ddy one’.
Scheduled to open in 2014, the massive project will be built by the Troyer Group, an Indiana-based firm that specializes in LEED-certified construction and design. The Creation Museum’s design director, Patrick Marsh, will be heading the design and ‘theming’ of all of the attractions, to ensure that the quality mirrors that of the Creation Museum in every area.
The full-scale, all-wood ark will be built using the long cubit, and in accordance with sound established nautical engineering practices of the era. Solar panels along with passive solar, geothermal, water, and wind technologies will be integrated into the mechanical systems. The firm is planning to use many local companies and locally manufactured products as possible in order to maximise efficiency while also enhancing the local economy.
More than just the Ark, the project to be located south of Cincinnati and in northern Kentucky will include a large complex of associated attractions, theaters, amenities, event venues, and ample parking to accommodate the expected crowds.
The biblical theme park will also feature a variety of sections based on other Bible stories such as: The Walled City, a shopping and food complex; Noah’s Animals, with a petting zoo and live animal shows; The Tower of Babel, a 100ft-tall building with exhibits and a theatre; Journey Through History, a ‘trip through the events of the Bible’; First-Century Village, a model of a First-Century town in the Middle East. Currently, a fundraising campaign is underway to build the ark itself.
With the land currently under consideration, the Ark Encounter would be about a 45-minute drive from the Creation Museum, another project by Answers in Genesis. The Ark Encounter will complement the Creation Museum.
