Michigan theme park engineering spooky season haunted house to distress
Adriana Kelley, College of Engineering
Collaborators: Morgan Bettie, LSA; Kyler Bautista, CoE; Jade Friedlis, CoE & Stamps; Zachary Bonza-Brodie, CoE; Elizabeth Athaide, Pharmacy
Our haunted house project is a truly interdisciplinary effort, combining elements of engineering, design, art, psychology, and finance. Each team member brings specialized skills to the table, making this approach not only appropriate but essential for the project’s success. Engineering principles guide the construction and safety of the haunted house, while design and artistic elements are crucial for creating an immersive and visually compelling experience. The psychological aspect is considered in the layout and effects, ensuring that the haunted house effectively builds suspense and engages participants. Finance is equally important, as we carefully manage the budget, secure funding, and ensure the event is financially viable.
The arts play a pivotal role in our project, particularly in the creation of the haunted house’s atmosphere. We’re building everything from scratch, including walls, special effects, and props, using materials like paint, paper mâché, and cardboard. These artistic elements are essential for transforming the space into a convincing horror movie-inspired environment, allowing us to evoke the classic horror themes without relying on specific trademarks. The use of creative set design, lighting, and sound effects will bring the horror theme to life and provide an engaging, immersive experience for attendees.
As a group project, our interdisciplinary collaboration has both benefits and challenges. To manage these effectively, we use Slack for communication and project planning, ensuring that everyone stays on the same page. Each member has a defined role: Kyler, Adriana, and Zack, all mechanical engineering majors, are focused on the technical aspects and special effects; Morgan, as the finance lead, is responsible for securing funding and managing collaborations; Jade and Lizzie are in charge of the artistic work. While differences in perspectives can be challenging, they also drive innovation, allowing us to combine our diverse skills into a cohesive final product.
We plan to execute the project on October 18 and 19, having already secured most of the materials and planned out the haunted house. We are working on finalizing the location, with the North Quad Activities Room and the Trotter Basement as potential venues. We are also in the process of collaborating with a mental health group like WSN to add a wellness dimension to the event, and we hope to partner with the School of Music, Art, and Dance to secure actors for the haunted house.
The impact on campus will be significant, providing students with a fun, stress-relieving activity during the midterm season. As we have done in the past, escape rooms, and haunted houses. We aim to make the event as affordable as possible, with any profits supporting TPEG’s participation in national competitions. Our team’s diverse skills in engineering, design, and finance give us the confidence that we can deliver a successful haunted house that will not only entertain but also enrich the University of Michigan community.