CLR Culture
PSU Summer Camp
On July 25, 2019, CLR Senior Associate Jeff Sawyer hosted students from the Penn State Architecture and Landscape Architecture Design Experience Camp (DXC). Now in its third year, the DXC provides an active, engaging environment in which young designers in the Philadelphia area can explore key concepts, technologies, and practices through hands-on learning experiences related to the professional fields of architecture, landscape architecture, and graphic design. Jeff discussed with the students the evolution of zoo design, its diverse and unique challenges, and demonstrated specific design solutions and materials. CLR is proud to support and assist the designers of tomorrow.
PAWS and the Magis Puppy Design Challenge
On May 1, 2019, a team from CLR Design entered “Lionel” into the 2nd Annual Magis Puppy Design Challenge. The interior design firm Premier provided several local design firms each with a Magis Puppy to use as a blank canvas. The decorated Puppies were then the center of a silent auction to raise money for PAWS (Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society). Not only did “Lionel” help raise money for local pups, he also had an additional conservation lesson:
One of the greatest threats to lion habitats and populations is habitat encroachment and human-wildlife conflict – farmers are killing lions to protect their livestock. In eastern Africa, wildlife organizations are raising and training puppies to give to local farmers as an alternative form of protection for their livestock. Livestock guardian dogs are known for their imposing physical presence, fierce bark, and loyal protective nature. Not only do they bond with and fiercely protect the herd, but they also save lions and other big cats by alleviating the pressure on farmers to kill them.
Gary Lee Receives Special AZA Award
On Tuesday, September 12, 2017, the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) awarded its prestigious Wendy Fisher Award for Professional Excellence to veteran zoo designer Gary H. Lee. He is one of the world’s top experts in the field and is only the second architect to receive this honor since the award was established in 2004.
The zoos of today are a far cry from the caged menageries of a century ago, or the hard concrete enclosures of the mid-century. “The younger generation of zoo and aquarium professionals might take for granted the design of immersive and animal-welfare oriented exhibits they work in today,” according to Palmer “Satch” Krantz, the legendary director of the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden who nominated Lee. “They may not be aware of the profound and forward-thinking changes in zoo design which were ushered in by collaborative, even revolutionary teams of which Gary was often a part.”
Krantz said Lee also made major contributions to “the concepts of immersive habitat design, ethology-based design, flex-habitat design, wellness-inspired design and other trends which have made the zoos of today completely different than the zoos of the past.”
In speaking of Lee’s contribution to the field when presenting the award in Indianapolis during the AZA’s national conference, AZA Board member Gregg Hudson (President and CEO of Dallas Zoo) said, “He is on a constant quest to improve the model. The model for our visitors, for our animals, and for our profession. His impressive body of work has helped to shape the evolution of what today’s zoos are, and will have an impact many generations still to come.”
Holiday Party
Each winter the CLR staff gathers at a local restaurant or venue for our annual Holiday Party. In December 2018, the entire staff from both our Philadelphia and Capistrano Beach offices gathered at the Museum of the American Revolution for an evening of celebration.
Snow Day at CLR
The 37-foot tall statue of Philadelphia founder William Penn, atop City Hall. This photo was a team effort – taken by Dan from Nick’s desk on an iPhone through Gary’s telescope. More than half the office couldn’t make it in because of weather-related transit issues (so we had the peace and quiet to play with the telescope a little!).