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October 6, 2015

Portland zoo starts $15M center to house conservation education

By JOURNAL STAFF

Renderings courtesy of Oregon Zoo [enlarge]

The Oregon Zoo in Portland recently broke ground on a $15 million conservation education center that is slated to open in spring 2017.

The design team is led by Opsis Architecture of Portland, and Jones & Jones Architects and Landscape Architects of Seattle. Interpretive components were designed by IQ Magic of Santa Monica, Calif. The contractor is Portland-based Fortis Construction.

The zoo is at 4001 S.W. Canyon Road.

The center will be opposite the Amur tiger habitat. It will be an entry and staging area for children in zoo camps and classes, and help the zoo expand education programs with groups such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

An insect zoo and an interactive species-recovery lab will be part of the center. Visitors will learn how zoo scientists care for endangered animals and see where rare western pond turtles are raised for release into the wild. Kids can practice field-research activities in interactive play areas.

The center will have a Nature Exploration Station — or NESt — to help visitors understand how humans and nature are linked. A backyard habitat garden will illustrate the importance of native plants for local wildlife.

This is the fifth of eight major projects funded by a 2008 zoo bond measure.




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