The new jaguar exhibit at Woodland Park Zoo
features several shotcrete tree replicas.
Synergy Construction
Woodland Park Zoo jaguar exhibit
Owner: Woodland Park Zoo
Architect: The Portico Group
Synergy Construction worked with the Woodland Park Zoo to retrofit the jaguar exhibit, transforming the old-style caged enclosure into a modern replica of the animalís natural environment. The exhibit includes a running waterfall, a 110-foot steel and shotcrete replica of a fallen Kapok tree, a 28-by-30-foot tree stump, live fish pond and more than 1,500 trees, shrubs and ground covers. The entire exhibit is covered with steel mesh.
The project includes an attached holding building with kitchen service area and three interior animal dens for additional shelter and space for a future birthing den. The interior units connect to the exhibit through automatic guillotine doors, enabling the animals to be moved with minimal keeper contact.
Four months into construction, the owner requested the addition of the Kapok tree replica as the entrance to the exhibit, significantly increasing the cost of the project and complicating scheduling.
Synergy overcame the challenge by scheduling work to minimize disruption to the neighboring exhibits and food court. All material deliveries and removal of large equipment were limited to after zoo operating hours. Synergy worked carefully in the confined area, especially when working on sewer and storm utilities located 20 feet underground.
Synergy fabricated the fallen tree and caved archways of the exhibit using steel and rebar framing with an artistic shotcrete finish. The contractor completed the project on schedule with no recordable OSHA incidents.
The project team included: Jerry Howe, structural engineer; SvR Design, civil engineer; Tetra Tech KCM, mechanical engineer; Eisi Consulting Engineers, electrical services; and ABC members Northwest Asphalt and AMI-All Masonry.