Supporting Denver Zoo’s mission of conservation and education
A leader among American Zoological Association accredited zoos for animal care and conservation, the Denver Zoo needed to replace their 40-year-old hospital to provide even better care for Zoo animals. They also wanted a space that would raise awareness of the Zoo’s mission of “inspiring communities to save wildlife for future generations.” The Zoo engaged our Denver-based team to provide architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, lighting design, and project management services for the project.
Designed to treat the Zoo’s 3,000-plus inhabitants, the hospital accommodates creatures from the tiniest tree frog to grizzly bears, while also providing guests a deep look inside animal care. The 22,000 square-foot (2,044-square-metre) facility includes two treatment rooms, critical care units, and a surgical suite. It also provides safe access to the animals, offering holding areas that include quarantine spaces. The indoor and outdoor areas are flexible, increasing the space dedicated to each creature, and consider noise, views, and access to daylight to support animal comfort.
An elevated viewing platform allows guests a firsthand look at the Zoo’s industry-leading veterinary care. Visitors, guest veterinarians, researchers, and students can view the treatment rooms, surgery suite, and laboratory through large windows. Additionally, operating table lights have cameras installed that broadcast live from the surgery suite to displays in the lobby, allowing visitors to see what the Zoo’s veterinarians are seeing.
The new hospital embodies the Denver Zoo’s mission, continuing to care for animals and educate the community for years to come.
At a Glance
- Offices
- Client
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- Denver Zoological Foundation, Inc.
- Award
- Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Illumination Awards, Merit Award, Denver 2022
Alexander Thome, Senior Principal, Buildings
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