How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk

raSmith’s structural engineering team had the opportunity to provide cold-formed steel engineering services for Universal Studios’ new attraction, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk. This was a one-of-a-kind project that required us to translate imaginative, Viking-inspired designs into practical cold-formed steel framing solutions, all while staying true to the creative vision.

This project was an exceptional undertaking for our cold-formed steel engineering team, requiring a superior level of creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. Unlike typical projects where architectural drawings provide clearly defined details, this project began with artistic renderings and loosely defined concepts. Many of the structures featured irregular shapes—arches, domes, themed log columns, and curved walls—that had to be constructed from straight steel studs. Each building was different, and a solution that worked in one location rarely applied to another. Every detail had to be engineered uniquely, which made the project highly collaborative from start to finish.

Close coordination with Universal’s creative team was essential. We spent significant time interpreting drawings, requesting clarifications, and brainstorming design solutions. Internally, our engineers and drafters worked side by side in real time, developing and refining ideas until we found approaches that could both meet structural demands and achieve the desired aesthetic.

Another distinctive element was the scope of the interior framing. Typically, interior walls do not require engineered shop drawings, but in this case, heavy plaster theming, up to three inches thick, had to be supported. This meant that more than half of the interior framing required engineering, a significant expansion of the scope compared to most projects.

All this work also had to account for Florida’s environment, where hurricane-force winds and seasonal storms demand robust design. Every structure had to meet stringent safety requirements.

The cold-formed steel structural engineering team worked on elements for roughly 12 buildings, ranging from major structures to smaller features such as entry gates and restrooms. Construction took place between late 2022 and early 2025, with raSmith’s engineers being involved throughout the entire build to address questions and unexpected conditions.