Oregon Zoo
Portland, OR
Polar Passage features an expansive new space for polar bears that includes natural landscaping, deep saltwater pools and extraordinary viewing opportunities.
Project Type
At the Oregon Zoo’s expansive new Polar Passage, visitors can come eye to eye with polar bears as they roam over natural, tundra-like terrain, play in piles of snowy ice and plunge into deep, chilled, saltwater pools. Two large connecting habitats provide animals and caregivers with maximum choice and flexibility. At the exhibit’s Arctic Science Center, guests can watch as caregivers collaborate with the animals on their own healthcare and demonstrate the zoo’s work collecting data for conservation scientists in the Arctic. Educational displays provide information on how guests can help fight climate change, a threat to polar bears and other wildlife worldwide. The exhibit’s built-in sustainability features reinforce this theme — e.g., bird-friendly glass to prevent strikes, a filtration system that saves millions of gallons of water a year, and an underground “Slinky” (geothermal loop) that redirects heat generated at Polar Passage to warm the nearby elephant habitat.
Project Characteristics
Saltwater pools – best for maintaining healthy skin and fur with filtration systems that save water and energy
An energy-saving geothermal loop that draws heat from the polar bear habitat to warm the elephant building
Elevated terrain with natural landscaping, keeping the habitat cool and providing panoramic views for bears
Opportunities for up-close and interactive experiences, including a “smell port” where bears get within sniffing distance of visitors
Information on how to take climate action on behalf of wild bears and the Arctic ecosystem