CLR Design

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Insights

National Primate Learning Centre

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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.

CLR in Landscape Architect Magazine

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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.

Field Research in Africa

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CLR’s principals have traveled extensively to observe wild animals in their native habitats, often in the company of zoo leaders. Gary Lee, a keen observer of both animals and people, routinely creates illustrated journal keepsakes of these voyages, such as the example shown here from his 2000 safari in Botswana.

Zürich Elephant Exhibit

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In 2008, CLR participated in an international design competition to envision a new home for elephants at the Zoo Zürich. CLR’s concepts addressed several challenges at the site, including the climate and year-round accommodation for the elephants, as well as activity-based design and a softening of the distinction between indoor and outdoor, between exhibit and nature.

 John Collins illustration  

National Elephant Center

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The National Elephant Center (TNEC) was a major elephant breeding, training and research center. As an AZA-affiliated institution, the large campus provided a home for elephants from zoos that were unable to maintain the extensive spaces and high cost of evolving standards of responsible pachyderm care. CLR provided the Concept Design, Schematic Design, and similar services pro bono for this project. For a variety of reasons unrelated to design, the Center is no longer open. But the design challenges enabled CLR to coalesce several key ideas in cutting-edge elephant care that were realized in later elephant projects worldwide.

Illustration by John Collins     Illustration by John Collins  

Making Connections for Life

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CLR Design is an award-winning architectural and landscape architectural firm focused on designing zoological spaces that inspire, educate, preserve and protect. With a solid theoretical and practical design foundation, and over 30 years of focused experience, we remain at the forefront of key innovations and trends that began with the advent of landscape immersion and now include activity-based design for animals, adventure education, campus ecology, sustainable design and revenue driven entry complexes.