City Theatrical's QolorFLEX NuNeon® at the Mirror Maze at American Dream, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA 



The Mirror Maze at American Dream is a house of mirrors attraction that encourages guests to navigate their way through a maze full of interactive neon lights, electric beats, endless corridors, and twists and turns at every corner. Find out how American Dream’s Lighting Designer & Programmer, Nick Fazio, used QolorFLEX NuNeon, RGB to add bright accents to this mind-blowing landscape in this City Theatrical Case Study Q&A .

 


 

MIRROR_MAZE_LOGO
CASE STUDY: 

QolorFLEX NuNeon, RGB and QolorFLEX 5x8A Dimmers for the Mirror Maze attraction at American Dream in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA. 

 

 

PROJECT SNAPSHOT:


Location: Mirror Maze
  American Dream, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA
   
Project Installation Date:  October 1, 2023 
   
Lighting Designer / Programmer: Nick Fazio, American Dream
   
Lighting Package:  4Wall NY 
   
City Theatrical Solutions: 
 

 


 

PROJECT BACKGROUND:

The Mirror Maze at American Dream is a house of mirrors with interactive neon lights, electric beats, and clever turns around each corner. This attraction encourages guests to navigate their way through a mind-blowing landscape.

 


 

mirror maze animated

QolorFLEX NuNeon, RGB at American Dream's Mirror Maze. Photo Courtesy of Nick Fazio and American Dream.

 

 

CASE STUDY Q&A WITH NICK FAZIO OF AMERICAN DREAM:

City Theatrical (CT): Hi Nick! Can you tell us more about this QolorFLEX NuNeon installation in the Mirror Maze at American Dream?

Nick Fazio (NF): We installed 30 feet of QolorFLEX NuNeon, RGB within six acrylic tubes at the Mirror Maze attraction at American Dream. This attraction is located in the Merlin Court next to the Sea Life attraction.

 

CT: How did you use QolorFLEX NuNeon in this design? 

NF: We replaced existing tubes that had failing 120V LED rope light in them with the new acrylic tubes that encased QolorFLEX NuNeon. The older led rope was overheating and causing the existing tubes to crack. Since the update to QolorFLEX NuNeon, we have also started using QolorFLEX 5x8A Dimmers to program the new areas as well as the rest of the mirror maze lighting to change lighting based on the different songs playing, which depends on the season.

 

 

Shown below: The process of installing 30 feet of QolorFLEX NuNeon, RGB within six acrylic tubes for the Mirror Maze at American Dream.

 

QF NN at Mirror Maze, in process 1
QF NN at Mirror Maze, in process 4
QF NN at Mirror Maze, in process 2
QF NN at Mirror Maze, in process 7
QF NN at Mirror Maze, in process 3
QF NN at Mirror Maze, in process 8

 

 

CT: Tell us more: Is the lighting in the maze interactive?

NF: The lighting pulses with the music. We are using Xlights, a Christmas light editor, to run the overhead lights as well as change the pole colors to align with the music. The entire setup is controlled by a Raspberry Pi 4, which is outputting DMX as well as taking input from fire alarm and E-stop button to turn lights to white, play a scripted audio, and illuminate the floor to help visitors get out of the maze. 

 

CT: What was your installation like? 

NF: We created custom 3D printed brackets, which were attached to the QolorFLEX NuNeon using silicone at 12inch increments. We then tensioned the pieces between two 1/16” aircraft cables. 

 

CT: What were some of the unique challenges that affected the installation? 

NF: The most challenging aspect of the QolorFLEX NuNeon installation was getting the 30 feet of the product to lay out neatly and evenly space it within the confines of a 6-inch pipe. 

 

 

“QolorFLEX NuNeon was very easy to work with. QolorFLEX NuNeon has significantly increased the wow factor in this part of the mirror maze. The vibrant colors bouncing off the many mirrored panels looks amazing.”

- Nick Fazio, Lighting Designer, American Dream

 

 

CT: Did any unique testing go into choosing or installing QolorFLEX? 

NF: We didn’t do much testing. I have been a longtime supporter and user of City Theatrical solutions. I had used QolorFLEX NuNeon previously and knew that it was the right product for the job.

 

CT: What was it like to work with QolorFLEX NuNeon? 

NF: QolorFLEX NuNeon was very easy to work with. QolorFLEX NuNeon has significantly increased the wow factor in this part of the mirror maze. The vibrant colors bouncing off the many mirrored panels looks amazing.

 

 

QF NN at Mirror Maze, in process 9 unlit

Acrylic tubes unlit

QF NN at Mirror Maze, in process 9 lit red

Acrylic tubes lit

QF NN at Mirror Maze, 15 multi sq

Acrylic tubes in situ

QF NN at Mirror Maze, in situ 10 red

Mirror Maze in red

QF NN at Mirror Maze, banner 14 multi sq

Mirror Maze changing colors

Mirror Maze in blue



 


 

OTHER AREAS OF AMERICAN DREAM THAT USE CITY THEATRICAL PRODUCTS:


American Dream's Nickelodeon Theme Park includes QolorFLEX LED tape as backlighting, color-changing to orange

American Dream Nickelodeon Theme Park QolorFLEX backlighting green

American Dream's Nickelodeon Theme Park includes QolorFLEX LED tape as backlighting, color-changing to slime green

American Dream Nickelodeon Theme Park QolorPIX in 68 Light Posts

American Dream's Nickelodeon Theme Park includes custom cut QolorPIX Pixel Controlled LED Tape panels on 68 light posts, red holiday design

American Dream Nickelodeon Theme Park QolorPIX in 68 Light Posts multicolor

American Dream's Nickelodeon Theme Park includes custom cut QolorPIX Pixel Controlled LED Tape panels on 68 light posts, multicolor design

American Dream mall stage Multiverse Nodes

American Dream mall's staging area includes Multiverse Nodes for wireless DMX lighting control from the second level

American Dream Nickelodeon Theme Park Multiverse Transmitter

American Dream's Nickelodeon Theme Park includes Multiverse Transmitters to transmit wireless DMX to the QolorPIX Tape Controllers controlling the QolorPIX Pixel Tape vertically applied to the main beams

 


 

CITY THEATRICAL PRODUCTS USED:

To learn more about QolorFLEX LED Tape, Dimmers and Accessories, click here.

 

 


 

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Want to read more about American Dream?

View or download this story about QolorPIX Pixel Controlled LED Tape at the Nickelodeon theme park at American Dream.

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