Universal CityWalk is the name given to the entertainment and retail districts located adjacent to the theme parks of Universal Parks & Resorts. Originating as an expansion of Universal's first park, Universal Studios Hollywood, CityWalk serves as an entrance plaza from the parking lots to the theme parks. CityWalk can also be found at the Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Japan.
CityWalk Hollywood and CityWalk Orlando do have some common tenants, but their respective architectural styles are quite different. Where CityWalk Hollywood incorporates a classic modern blend of Hollywood, CityWalk Orlando is almost entirely modern in appearance.
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The Universal CityWalk Hollywood opened in May 1993 adjacent to the isolated Cineplex Odeon cinema. A $1 billion, 93,000 sq ft (8,600 m2). expansion opened in 2000.
CityWalk's central plaza is topped by a large steel-web canopy with a leaping fountain below, created by WET. A huge television monitor brought in by Panasonic, is located above the multiplex, showing upcoming Universal movie releases, music videos, and NBC Universal promotions stands next to the giant guitar towering over the Hard Rock Cafe.
Street performers (mimes, magicians, musicians) are a common sight. At Christmas time, there is a parade, carolers, and an outdoor ice skating rink near the theaters.
The first kiosk on citywalk was Rant-n-Rave
Project Statistics
| Design Principal | Jon Jerde |
| Site Area | 23 acres (93,000 m2) |
| Total Building Area | 540,000 sq ft (50,000 m2) |
| Executive Architect | DMJM/Keating |
| Water Elements Designer | WET |
| Specialty Lighting Consultant | Imero Fiorentino Associates |
| Graphic Designer | OLIO |
| Signage and Graphics Consultants | Harmonica, Wayne Hunt Design, Inc. |
| Landscape Architect | Emmet L. Wemple & Associates |
| Associate Architects | Hodgetts + Fung Design Associates, Morphosis, Anderson and Schwartz, Ellerbe Becket, Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates |
| Awards | 1994 Design Award, ICSC |
The Universal Citywalk in Orlando opened in 1999 as one component of the expansion that transformed Universal Studios Florida into today's Universal Orlando Resort. It was built over the former Universal Studios parking lot and entrance. Guests arriving at the resort park in one of two multi-story parking structures, then travel via covered moving sidewalks over Universal Boulevard into CityWalk. From there, guests can proceed into either of the theme parks, Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure.
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