Zoo Expansion
Moving forward . . .
The Saint Louis Zoo conducted a public open house on May 1 to obtain feedback on an expansion framework plan for the 13.5-acre Forest Park Hospital site purchased in October 2012.
More than 200 people attended the open house to view displays, listen to a presentation, discuss the framework plan with the design team, and provide input.
Reflecting months of research, analysis, planning and stakeholder engagement, the framework plan broadly outlines goals and guidelines for future development; its completion will be the launching point for the Zoo’s strategic and master planning initiatives. (See sidebar on the planning process.)
The Status
Winter 2012/Early 2013
- The Zoo and its consultant team hosted an open house in December 2012 to obtain public input on the expansion project. More than 180 people participated.
- Zoo staff and volunteers, community representatives, regional leaders, consultants and experts in zoological design met several times and participated in a design workshop/visioning charrette. (A charrette is an intensely focused session that uses a collaborative approach to create realistic and achievable designs that work.) The Zoo’s day-long charrette was a cooperative effort among diverse participants and generated many unique ideas and concepts.
Summer 2013
- The Zoo’s planning committee and consultant team are developing the final framework plan, which will serve as a guide for future development and decision-making.
The Project Team
“We have assembled a great team to move forward in developing this site and believe with their guidance, this property will help the Zoo further its mission of enhancing the visitor experience and will significantly improve the site to the benefit of the city, region and nearby communities,” said Jeffrey P. Bonner, Ph.D., Dana Brown President & CEO, Saint Louis Zoo.
- In July 2012, the Zoo’s planning committee issued a request for qualifications that led to the selection of a planning team. The firm selected to lead the process is SWT Design – a St. Louis-based design firm specializing in urban design, master planning and landscape architecture. SWT Design has successfully completed multiple large projects for the Zoo, including the South Entry Arrival Experience, River’s Edge, and the new Sea Lion Sound. SWT Design will work with local subconsultants Vector Communications, Horner & Shifrin, Lawrence Group, Crawford Bunte Brammeier, and Cowell Engineering, as well as Chicago-based architect Edward Uhlir, owner of Uhlir Consulting, LLC.