Visitors' Center (Film Universe)

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Visitors' Center
General information
Status	Abandoned
Location	Main Compound, Jurassic Park
Cost	US$ 357 Million
Technical details
Floor count	3
Design and construction
Main contractor	InGen Construction

The Visitors' Center was the central hub of operations at Jurassic Park on Isla Nublar. It was in the final phases of construction in 1992 with it's feature attraction the Mr DNA Showcase operational. Due to the Jurassic Park Incident is was abandoned and never opened to the public.

History

The Dream Forgotten

With the Raptors distracted by the Tyrannosaur, the survivors fled the Visitors' Center just as Hammond and Malcolm arrived in the damaged Jeep #10. Back inside the Rotunda, the Rex lay waste to the final Velociraptor, ripping it from it's perch and throwing it into the Tyrannosaurus Fossil which disintegrated into pieces. The Rex then stood triumphant, letting out a final roar as the 'When Dinosaurs Rules The Earth' Banner fell to the ground.

The building sat abandoned for the next 22 years.

Rediscovering the Lost Park

Over two decades later during the Jurassic World Incident the abandoned Visitors' Center was rediscovered by Zach and Gray Mitchell whilst on the run from the Indominus Rex. An abandoned and practically destroyed Jurassic World Utility Quad drew their attention to the overgrown and almost unrecognisable entrance to the Visitors' Center.

Layout and Facilities

An outdated top-view schematic of the Visitors' Center taken from the Jurassic Park System

The building is divided up into both visitor and staff areas.

Ground Floor

Garage

A small 2-vehicle Maintenance Garage for the Park's Staff Jeeps is part of the Center's facilities.

1st Floor

The First Floor of the Visitors' Center is largely restricted access as it houses the Control Room and Park Laboratory. Other areas include the Presentation Room and Showcase Theater, both accessible through the Rotunda Balcony.

An outdated top-view schematic of the Visitors' Center 1st Floor taken from the Jurassic Park System

Production Notes

Jurassic Park

The Visitors' Center was carried over from the novel Jurassic Park to the film Jurassic Park. Whilst the functional design of the building from the novel remained relatively similar many of the aesthetics were changed. Whereas the novel depicted a hi-tec facility made up largely of glass and iron work, the building in the film is more intricate in its blend of technology with native and tropical ideologies.

Production

Area	Filming Location	Notes
Exterior	Valley House Plantation Estate	A large Facade was constructed next to pond along with a tarmac road and rail. A portion of this Facade was reconstructed at the Universal Soundstages along with matching interiors.
Rotunda and Café	Universal Studios Stage 12	A large multi-level Set was constructed on Stage 12, comprising the forward portion of the Visitors' Center with Tour Road, the Rotunda with Ventilation Ducts and the Restaurant with an exterior patio and Jungle.
Control Room, Genetics Lab and Theater	Universal Studios Stage 28	A large Set was constructed on Stage 28 to represent much of the first floor of the Visitors' Center including the Control Room, Genetics/Fertilisation/Hatchery and Theater Showcase.
Presentation Room	Universal Studios Stage 24	A small Set was constructed on Stage 24 to represent the Presentation Room.
Kitchen	Universal Studios Stage 24	A medium-sized Set was constructed on Stage 24 to represent the Visitors' Center Kitchen with Freezer, and partial mockups of the Restaurant and exterior Jungle.

Post Production

After the film had wrapped, the Rotunda Set and First Floor Set were used once again to record pre-show material for Jurassic Park: The Ride. The sets mostly were mostly represented in their final states from filming, for instance both the Tyrannosaurus and Alamosaurus skeletons were missing from the rotunda following their destruction and the 'When Dinosaurs Rules the Earth' banner was still absent.

The Lost World: Jurassic Park

Though the Visitors' Center did not feature in The Lost World: Jurassic Park, it's design influence was still felt in the sequel most notably in the Operations Building in the Worker Village.

Jurassic World

The Visitors' Center made a reappearance in Jurassic World, marking only the second time in the franchise that a location from a previous instalment was revisited, the first being the waterfall behind the Jurassic Park Helipad earlier in the film.

Production

For filming, the crew built a partial reconstruction of the Rotunda Set from Jurassic Park at the Batton Rouge Sound Stages in Louisiana. Due to the restrictive angles planned for the scenes, they only rebuilt the Lower Wall with Mural, Balcony, Staircase and Archway using a blue screen for the upper portions to be replaced digital during Post-Production.