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Insect-themed Entertainment Center Planned for Windsor Road

Butterfly conservatory to be built at former Givaudan building.

 

An entertainment center featuring insect exhibits and a live butterfly conservatory is planned at the former Givaudan building on Windsor Road, near the Teaneck border with Bergenfield.

The former fragrance company complex was sold to a “children's education organization called World of Wings,” according to Givaudan corporate spokesman Jeff Peppet. New details of the proposed entertainment center emerged at last week’s Board of Adjustment meeting as World of Wings seeks variances for the property.

The World of Wings complex will include exhibits on small winged insects and small reptiles, according to Harry Tuvel, an engineer working on the project.

“There’s going to be a focus on butterflies,” Tuvel said. “This is something very unique and different.”

The facility will also have a kids play area, gift shop, auditorium and food service, Tuvel said.

A World of Wings representative said she was not authorized to comment ahead of a formal announcement. Although company representatives have not released details, documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office confirm World of Wings provides entertainment with a focus on butterflies.

In a trademark office filing, World of Wings is described as “providing children's party centers for the purpose of entertaining children and celebrating birthdays; entertainment services, namely conducting parties; and entertainment services in the nature of an amusement park attraction, namely a themed area relating to butterflies.”

The former Givaudan site appears to be the only World of Wings location and the trademark showed Windsor Road as the owner’s address.

An online job posting said the facility is seeking a zoologist who studies insects, with a specialization in butterflies and moths. Candidates bilingual in English and Korean are preferred, but not required, according to the posting.

It is not clear when World of Wings would open. A "coming soon" message was posted on the World of Wings website.

At last week’s Board of Adjustment meeting, World of Wings representatives began to detail their need for a parking and height variance on the 5.8-acre site.

Tuvel said the site, currently zoned for light industrial use, was well secluded from nearby homes. World of Wings is seeking to build two towers over the site's approved height limit. One tower would be 80 feet and the other 60 feet, Tuvel said.

World of Wings is also seeking a parking variance to add more spaces to the lot.

The building’s footprint would not change, the engineer said.

One area resident, Helen Harrison, expressed concerns over privacy.

"My kitchen window looks directly into your facility," she said.

The World of Wings application was ultimately carried until an October Board meeting.

Givaudan, a Swiss company, moved out of its Teaneck facility for a larger building as the company grew, and the building has remained vacant since early 2009. Last year, Perry and Gladys Rosenstein announced they would donate money to fund a cultural arts center at the Windsor Road property. That plan fell through and news surfaced that the empty Windsor Road facility was already sold.

The Givaudan building was built in 1972 and designed by architect Der Scutt, who also designed Trump Tower.  According to a 1998 Fast Company article, the building featured a Zen garden and was home to Givaudan's fragrance laboratory.

Related Topics: 1775 Windsor Road, Bergenfield, Development, Givaudan, Teaneck, and World of Wings

Diane Schwarz

7:40 pm on Tuesday, September 20, 2011

I assume the variances would not infringe on Windsor Park adjoining the property. Also, what would the towers be for?

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Kenneth K. Kim

2:36 pm on Thursday, December 15, 2011

There are no towers, but Glass Atrium, the state of arts type and there will be 1,000's of live butterflies shall fly around among other insects as well with tropical planted forest. There are 2 apex; 60 ft and 80 ft. The variances shall not infringe on Windsor Park. And the property is not expanding from current structure or landscape.

V

7:00 am on Thursday, September 22, 2011

Wonderful project. Township should put a stoplight on Winthrop or Churchill along Windsor to allow pedestrians to cross safely and encourage visitors to the World of Wings

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Kenneth K. Kim

10:49 pm on Sunday, November 27, 2011

We are looking into the pedestrian cross walk, new traffic signal and/or additional street lights on Windsor Road.

zizi

11:15 am on Thursday, September 22, 2011

Good news..... Township should do everything in their powers to help the company and shoudl grant them the variances they seek......

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Kenneth K. Kim

10:52 pm on Sunday, November 27, 2011

Yes, finally we got all our approvals on October 6, 2011 and waiting for the resolution.
But town lawyer is hospitalized and we have not gotten yet.

Johanna Dorothy

1:27 pm on Sunday, September 25, 2011

WOW! - What a wonderful thing to have so close to all our schools, childrens groups, even adult communities. Great day trip for them too.
Much luck -

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Kenneth K. Kim

10:57 pm on Sunday, November 27, 2011

Yes, we believe this educational facilities (Atriums, many exhibitions, cafe, restaurant, arcade and etc.) shall be the dream place for children and parents.

ray

2:08 am on Wednesday, October 5, 2011

love it and have been following closely!

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Kenneth K. Kim

11:07 pm on Sunday, November 27, 2011

Yes, please do so. This place shall be the one in a kind in Teaneck, New Jersey and US. We will have many visitors from try states, and local visitors for special occasional event such as birthday parties and etc. This project shall be the new icon of Teaneck, not only hospital. We are expecting the powerful growth in economic development of Teaneck.

zizi

12:38 am on Monday, November 28, 2011

Typical Teaneck..... What a sorry state of affairs....... attorneys sick.... cannot get the work done....... I hope this company does not loose hope and leave Teaneck......

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Kenneth K. Kim

6:52 pm on Tuesday, November 29, 2011

We will not leave, we will be here for next 25 years or more.
This is 100% scholastic and educational project and it is big. It will be BEAUtiful and it will bring the business back into Teaneck. This will be Kids’ heaven and as well as parents’. You wouldn’t go bowling party for your kid’s birthday party. This is the museum with butterfly conservatory atrium with live butterflies flying freely and 1000’s of insect exhibitions with indoor playground.

Julia Lipman

7:25 pm on Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Are they looking for employees yet, the website is inactive

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Grace

4:16 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Thanks for the interest Julia! Since WOW is still in the final phases of construction we are currently not looking for any additional employees. Once our opening date is set this will certainly change, so be sure to keep checking our Facebook (www.facebook.com/WorldofWingsNJ) with exciting updates and news! The official World of Wings website is also under construction, but will be launched in the near future.

Wezee

11:45 am on Friday, April 13, 2012

Please contact me because I have some great ideas for your gift shop

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Ralph Borras

12:13 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012

We are counting the days to completion....this is going to be a great place to my family,friends and extended famiy when they come to visit us in Teaneck.

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bonnie

10:01 am on Wednesday, November 14, 2012

I think this is a wonderful idea!....can't wait for the GRAND Opening!

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Mitch

9:36 am on Monday, April 8, 2013

Roure Dupont aka Givaudan had a secret chemical waste pipe hidden underground that randomly dumped toxins into the stream outside the new World of Wings attraction. It killed the rich green undergrowth of bushes and small trees for half a mile around. All the wildlife died or fled. My brother brought the NJ EPA up in 1973 to inspect it but because of the random dumping schedule, they never got a dense enough water sample. Our dog Bonnie who traipsed through the stream used to come home smelling like a "lady". The dumping went on for thirty years and Roure's perfume execs all laughed their way to the bank then retired. Sad legacy for the land this beautiful butterfly attraction is now built on.

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