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When you’re
renovating a zoo, the inhabitants don’t go home at 5 o’clock, the
way they do in a downtown high-rise. Instead, their delicate
well-being is effected by every decision the construction team
makes, 24/7. Our work at the Franklin Park Zoo is no exception. In
the months to come, we’ll continue to chronicle the progress of our
project team as they work side-by-side with winged spectators and
four-legged furry friends.
Phase I of the
Franklin Park Zoo Master Plan began with the renovation of the
gorilla exhibit, inside the Tropical Forest. The Zoo’s three-acre
forest is home to many of the Zoo’s most fascinating animals,
including lemurs, mandrills, pygmy hippos, dwarf crocodiles and a
community of gorillas that includes Little Joe. The Zoo kept most of
the animals on exhibit throughout construction, allowing visitors to
experience the changes to the habitat as they unfolded. Curious
visitors could peek through windows in the construction barriers.
These portholes, cut at all heights, made it possible for even the
tiniest visitors to catch a glimpse of the exciting new Zoo in the
making.
Security is
always a primary concern during construction. The safety of animals,
their keepers, the visiting public and the construction crews all
require unique precautions. Exotic birds, bats and animals inhabit
the same space where construction is taking place. The fumes and
dust often taken for granted as a by-product of construction need to
be kept away from sensitive animals. The Commodore team worked
closely with zookeepers each day to ensure animals were monitored
for signs of stress at every moment. There was zero tolerance for
error.
Removal of the
moats and the installation of three-inch thick glass observation
windows in the gorilla holding exhibit took place during the initial
phase. The addition of a woven steel cable and mesh ceiling now
safely contains the animals and allows the gorillas to occupy more
vertical space in their new home. The steel support structure is
covered by realistic looking trees and rock walls to provide an
authentic habitat. Visitors to the new exhibit stand face-to-face
with these magnificent animals. Only 1 ½ inches of glass separate
them from unobstructed views of new feeding and training areas.
The
construction during Phase I contained many prototypical elements
that required Commodore to adapt and respond in the field as new
materials came together. Tying the structural metal steel and the
ceiling mesh together posed a unique high-altitude challenge not
encountered in typical high-rise fit-outs.
Little Joe’s
escape in 2003 highlighted the challenge faced by many zoos with
adolescent male gorillas in exhibits that were built to accepted zoo
industry standards of the 80’s and 90’s. Since 2003, Zoo New
England and their partners have been considering how best to meet
this challenge. Designing doors and glass that are capable of
withstanding gorilla play isn’t as simple as designing for a typical
office building. There are wind loads available for that…but there’s
no such thing as gorilla loads to consult! The design and
construction process required a whole different set of criteria and
included a whole different set of challenges. Coordinating the
conference room schedule during a 100-person law firm renovation
turned out to be simpler than coordinating the schedule of six
gorillas!
Renovation of
the gorilla exhibit is the first in an exciting new series of
improvements slated for Franklin Park Zoo/Zoo New England. Stay
tuned for more construction stories about building the new giraffe
barn and holding area for African wild dogs…or go see for yourself
what’s new at the Zoo!
http://www.zoonewengland.org
Coming
Soon…
Now that we’ve
completed a prestigious prototype habitat for Little Joe and his
five companions, we’ve begun to expand the gorilla holding area
where the animals reside when they’re not on exhibit for the
public. The scope of this project includes a new caging system with
four independent holding areas and an overhead transfer chute. The
chute functions as a bridge allowing the gorillas to move back and
forth between the holding areas and the exhibit.
Real estate for
the new gorilla caging system was once home to the African wild
dogs. So, the wild dogs have been temporarily relocated, their
caging system demolished and a new structure erected. This
prefabricated steel building is located in the yard of the exterior
wild dog exhibit.
The giraffes
are also getting their share of attention with a newly expanded barn
now under construction. Commodore is adding a steel addition to the
back of the existing barn to accommodate the "squeeze chute." The
chute functions as a special cage used by the zoo staff and
veterinarians to work closely with the animals for training and
medical purposes.
While the
behind-the-scenes-work now underway is not as visible as the new
habitat,
it’s
just as important to the Zoo because it enhances the environment for
both the animals and their keepers.
"I have had the opportunity over the past 30 years to be part of a fairly esoteric selection of construction projects involving critters such as sharks, beluga whales, dolphins, sea lions, lions, jaguars, leopards, wildebeest and marmosets; and I can say that the gorilla exhibit here at ZNE was one of the most challenging yet. Working with Commodore’s team was a pleasure and I look forward to the opportunity to do so again in the future."
Marshall K. Judges
Exec. Vice President/Chief Operating Officer
Zoo New England
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