CLR Design
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We would like to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude to the dedicated staffs of zoos and aquariums worldwide. These institutions have been as hard-hit as anyone during this time, with most deliberately limiting their attendance in the interest of public health, and some still closed entirely. Yet thousands of stalwart keepers, curators, and administrators continue to give their full attention to the animals in their care. Thank you!
In 2014, CLR participated in an international competition to design a new, world-class research facility for orangutans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and several other primate species for the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It would provide expansive habitats and a strong conservation message to the anticipated 600,000 annual visitors. CLR’s concepts integrated several cutting-edge solutions to both exhibit-specific and campus-wide challenges, including proposals for a Visitor Welcome Center & Exhibition Theater, Browse Gardens & Forests, Primate Encounter Outposts, Primate Passages and Free Range Zones, State-of-the-Art Wellness Hubs, and Monsoon Campus Ecology for a Sustainable Landscape.
At the annual conference of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Zoo Knoxville was honored with the Significant Achievement – Exhibit Design award in the category of institutions with an operating budget over $8 Million for the Boyd Family Asian Trek exhibit. Visitors get nose-to-nose viewing opportunities with Malayan tigers as these big cats climb over Southeast Asian temple ruins, play in the water, or climb a 20-foot tall poles for treats.
Congratulations to Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo – their Bay Family Children’s Adventure Trails has received the 2019 Innovation Exhibit Award (for institutions with operating budgets over $8 Million) from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. This outstanding example of Adventure Education had previously been recognized in 2018 as an Education Design Showcase Project of Distinction. The 3 acre Adventure Trail sequence that includes multiple exploration, dynamic play, and animal encounter opportunities for kids and families.
The October 2019 issue of Landscape Architect magazine profiles how CLR helped the Denver Zoo modernize their entry to handle rapidly growing attendance, provide an enjoyable visitor experience when arriving or departing, expand circulation and parking options, and create an immediate, “big bang” front animal exhibit.
The same issue also features another article, “Enlightened Habitation Development at Zoos across the U.S.,” with interviews of CLR co-founder Jon Coe and CLR Senior Associate Jeff Sawyer on current trends in habitat design that encourage natural behaviors, animal choice and wellness, and an enhanced connection between visitors and the natural world.
Read both articles below,
Or you can view the full issue online.
Adapted and excerpted from an article by Lani McWilliams in AZA Connect, July 2019 | Archived version
In March 2019, staff at Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans, La., met with CLR Design to dream of the next phase of Africa at Audubon Zoo. Not long into the meeting, the lead architect Mark Beauchamp interjected with, “We’ve heard from your CEO and several staff about the kids next door. We fully understand that we need to think about incorporating views for Children’s Hospital patients into any new giraffe habitat.”
As Audubon Zoo’s next-door neighbor in Uptown New Orleans, Children’s Hospital New Orleans is now a primary audience we consider in internal discussions ranging from inclusion, to guest experiences, to mission integration in visitation-driving initiatives, to habitat design. The vice presidents of development for both organizations speak frankly about goals, needs, cross-over, and opportunities to collaborate and leverage both our missions and brands.