Oregon Zoo
Portland, OR
The Master Plan for this 64-acre Zoo provides a blueprint for a state-of-the-art campus with rigorous attention to animal welfare, enrichment and visitor experience, while integrating a comprehensive sustainable water and energy infrastructure that supports and adapts to emerging technologies.
Design Framework Characteristics
Project Type
The Oregon Zoo aspires to become the most significant and inspiring conservation and sustainability educational tool in the Seattle metro area, demonstrating the successful coexistence of humans, animals, and nature, and operating as a vital link to local and global species and habitat conservation and survival.
The Comprehensive Capital Master Plan evolves the Oregon Zoo into a state-of-the-art campus with game-changing exhibits and a highly sustainable campus ecology footprint. In tandem with rigorous attention to animal welfare, activity and visitor experience, and comprehensive sustainable water and energy infrastructure that supports and adapts to emerging technologies, the planning included pre-schematic designs for $125 million in bond-funded projects.
The AZA-award-winning Elephant Lands exhibit, designed by CLR, was the first major bond-funded project to break ground. It features a diverse and expansive elephant habitat with a strong gateway presence on the east end of campus. This phase also accomplished the greater part of the utility infrastructure loop, a service loop connecting operations centers, and a new home for the train with enhanced, elevated views.
CLR is currently designing the Oregon’s Zoo’s next project from the Master Plan, Polar Passage, which is set to open in 2020.
Legacy & Expertise Notes
Industry Insider
Campus-wide sustainability