This morning, Universal Orlando Resort filed a new permit, likely related to the rumored expansion of the Harry Potter-themed land in Epic Universe. The new permit is for the installation of a “PEMB”, which stands for Pre-Engineered Metal Building. This new building will likely be located in a backstage area behind the current Harry Potter land that we’ve been tracking since last November. Here’s the latest.
New Permit Signals Building Installation for Harry Potter Expansion at Epic Universe
A new permit was filed this morning for “PEMB Construction” at Epic Universe. The permit, filed with the city of Orlando, lists Baker Barrios Architects Inc. as the applicant on behalf of Universal and The Whiting Turner Contracting Company as the proposed contractor for the project.
At this point, there is very little information in the permit application beyond the companies listed, and a project square footage space of 150,000 sqft. For those who have been watching the rumors of an expanded Harry Potter presence at Epic Universe, that 150,000 sqft number might ring a bell.
Back in November, the initial permit for work rumored to be related to a Harry Potter expansion listed exactly 150,000 sqft to describe the project area. By December, an updated version of the permit referenced the project number for the Harry Potter land at Epic Universe, Project 905.
While this newest permit doesn’t list Project 905, we’re connecting a few dots here. The early permits were for site prep and utility work. This new permit is for the installation of a massive building. Both the former site utility permit (which did reference Project 905) and the recent building installation permit (which doesn’t reference Project 905) use the same architect, the same contractor, and encompass the same square footage. Unless Universal is undertaking multiple massive projects, we think it’s very likely that this new building construction permit is for the rumored Harry Potter expansion.
The only thing that gives me some pause is that there is an expiration date of September 2026. If that’s the case, and the scope of work is to install the shell of the likely warehouse-sized building, that’s a lot of work that needs to start very soon. With no visible utilities work yet, that seems unlikely. I’m assuming that permits can be extended as needed, though, or that the utility work can take place simultaneously with the installation of the steel shell of the building, prior to the floor being poured.
As seen in the aerial photo below from friend of the site Bioreconstruct, there is a nice plot of land right behind the current footprint of the Harry Potter-themed portal at Epic Universe. The expansion pad is neatly bounded by a backstage roadway on two sites, and existing buildings and themed facades on the other two sides.
As for what could be coming, that’s anyone’s guess at this point. We’ve heard some rumors as to what could be on the way, but it’s too early to say. We’d expect that whatever is next is just as immersive and thrilling as the existing Battle at the Ministry attraction.
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is a stunning example of how Universal is creating world-class, highly immersive experiences at Epic Universe. While the attraction itself is wonderful and contains some of the best Audio-Animatronics I’ve ever seen (Disney included), Universal continues to receive high praise for the queue, which contains a faithful recreation of the British Ministry of Magic atrium.
In terms of where we’d expect this expansion to attach to the existing Harry Potter land, there is a wonderfully themed dead end on the east side of the current guest-accessible spaces that seems custom-built for expansion.
This area felt so ripe for future development that we spent a little bit of time snapping some photos of the area during a particularly quiet morning and late at night, showcasing the area that is mostly facades at this stage.
Of particular interest is this facade with a plaque mentioning the French Ministry of Magic. It seems like this would serve as a wonderful entrance to a future attraction.
If we go back to the aerial photo of the area, we can see that there is nothing behind this facade currently, and that it is immediately adjacent to the expansion plot for the Harry Potter land at Epic Universe.
Here’s one final look at the area late at night.
Universal Orlando Resort has not officially announced any details for the Harry Potter Land expansion at Epic Universe.
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