OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO: AFRICA EXHIBIT
Oklahoma City
Merit Award
Sent by: Timberlake construction
OWNER City Zoological Trust
LEADING DESIGN COMPANY PGAV destinations
GENERAL CONTRACTOR Timberlake construction
CIVIL ENGINEERING Wallace Design Collective
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING Burgess Engineering and Testing
MEP ENGINEERING EXP
An extensive 12-hectare revitalization and expansion project included the renovation of the zoo’s iconic Pachyderm Building and the addition of a giraffe house, a carnivore building and a flamingo barn.
By combining historic preservation with habitats that exceed industry standards, this $27 million project revitalizes a key area of the zoo. Originally built in the 1960s, the Pachyderm Building housed many of the zoo’s largest animals. Although it can no longer house elephants and rhinos, the building has been transformed into an event space and now offers habitats for smaller species.
This workplace presented several challenges, especially in managing the safe and efficient movement of animals. Close coordination with zoo staff was essential, especially when moving animals at different times. For example, the giraffes had to stay indoors if the temperature exceeded a certain limit, and timing was crucial in determining when they could safely be outside.
Closing the main entrance required meticulous coordination to ensure construction workers could access the necessary areas without interfering with zoo operations. This included diverting the zoo’s usual access points and using alternative doors.
Additionally, working in extreme heat, often above 100 degrees, required the contractor to strictly adhere to safety protocols to protect both the animals and the project team.
