Master Plan

The Denver Zoo is the most visited cultural institution in Colorado, as well as an institution with a global reach, supporting conservation programs in over 60 countries in the past 25 years. Ready to undertake major changes, the Zoo began a new master planning effort to better leverage the Zoo’s physical campus to serve the growing local and global communities.

CLR facilitated several workshops and brought institution-specific ideas to the table that ultimately formed the framework for the new Master Plan. Starting outside the campus, the idea of “Frontage” allows iconic architecture along the northern edge of the campus to advertise the Zoo as a place for educational and special event opportunities. Inside the campus, the ideas of “Flow,” “Guest Experience Hubs,” and “Clustered Uses” organize the circulation, amenities, and support facilities to provide a safe and comfortable experience for both visitors and staff.

“Zoo as a Classroom” includes a centralized education facility combined with small satellite classrooms linked with unique animal experiences throughout the campus. Existing small animal exhibits will be combined into larger areas, better meeting the health needs for specific animals, allowing for future flexibility in the animal collection, and providing more opportunities for engaging animal crossings with guests. “Campus Ecology,” a concept that highlights natural processes, is woven into the new Master Plan with a braided visitor path and campus reforestation.