Urban Center
THE ICON
The Urban Center is the iconic part of E.P.C.O.T. Included here is the symbol of E.P.C.O.T, the Cosmopolitan Hotel built on a recreation deck. The hotel itself has a very contemporary design and is surrounded by lower office buildings. The deck is landscaped and several interesting features can be seen: tennis courts, heliports, running paths and several glass domes providing natural light to the levels below. The deck is indeed the roof of the enclosed and climate-controlled international shopping center. This mall concept was revolutionnary at the time of E.P.C.O.T design phase and would have included shops, restaurants and entertainment based on various cultures from all over the world, much like what eventually became constructed as World Showcase at Epcot Center, the themepark. The urban center is also the location of a huge multimodal transportation hub. As seen in the E.P.C.O.T film , the high speed monorails, trucks and car roads and PeopleMover lines are all connected here to connect various parts of E.P.C.O.T and of the whole Florida project. Around the Urban Center, we can find high density housing constructed around the limits of the recreational deck. Public services like outdoor and indoor stadiums, churches, shool, amusement park are located in the "green belt" around the Urban Center.
Overview of the Urban Center surrounded by the green belt. In the background: the Cosmopolitan Hotel, the high-density housing. In the foreground from left to right: catholic church, recreation center and a school campus with its outdoor stadium.
(c) Disney. Photo by Jeff Williams.
Overview of the Urban Center. The main access roads and monorail lines are going to and from the transportation lobby below the hotel. Notice the separate highways for personal cars and trucks.
(c) Disney. Photo by Jeff Williams.
Overview of the model: urban center, greenbelt and amusement park. In the background, the real Peoplemover line from Tomorrowland can be seen behind the glass panels.
(c) Disney. Photo by Jeff Williams.
Close-up of the transportation systems to and from the urban center. In the background: one of the heliports, the glass domes of the international shopping center and the recreation deck of the cosmopolitan hotel.
(c) Disney. Photo by Jeff Williams.
The Cosmopolitan Hotel and its recreation deck. Each lighted glass dome was a source of light for the international shopping center below. High-density housing with PeopleMover lines between each building.
(c) Disney. Photo by Jeff Williams.
A monorail line between other E.P.C.O.T areas and the Urban Center.
(c) Disney. Photo by Jeff Williams.
A monorail line between other E.P.C.O.T areas and the Urban Center.
(c) Disney. Photo by Jeff Williams.
The Cosmopolitan Hotel and its recreation deck below.
(c) Disney. Photo by Jeff Williams.
The Cosmopolitan Hotel and its recreation deck below.
(c) Disney. Photo by Jeff Williams.
The Cosmopolitan Hotel and its recreation deck below. A catholic church and the amusement park can be seen in the background.
(c) Disney. Photo by Jeff Williams.
The Cosmopolitan Hotel and its recreation deck below.
(c) Disney. Photo by Jeff Williams.
Cosmopolitan Hotel.
(c) Disney. Photo by Jeff Williams.
The Cosmopolitan Hotel and its recreation deck below. In the background, an auto-service center and a monorail line can be seen.
(c) Disney. Photo by Jeff Williams.
The Cosmopolitan Hotel and the International Shopping Center were also accessible through 2 heliports.
(c) Disney. Photo by Jeff Williams.
Details of the inside of one of the buildings from the international shopping center.
(c) Disney. Photo by Jeff Williams.
Around the urban center: sports installations (outside and inside stadiums, sports fields, churches and various services to serve the public.
(c) Disney. Photo by Jeff Williams.
Around the urban center: sports installations (outside and inside stadiums, sports fields, churches and various services to serve the public.
(c) Disney. Photo by Jeff Williams.
(c) Disney. Photo by Jeff Williams.
Football stadium.
(c) Disney. Photo by Jeff Williams.
(c) Disney. Photo by Jeff Williams.
Polynesian restaurant.
(c) Disney.
Polynesian restaurant.
(c) Disney.
