Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo has announced plans and unveiled the design for the renovation of the Kovler Lion House. The building originally opened in 1912 and is listed as a historic landmark.
The design of the $35 million renovation was created using data collected over the past few years related to the lions’ behavior, habitat use, and preferences. The renovation will include a savannah-style habitat for a pride of lions and any potential future offspring that will span the full northern side of the facility. The habitat will include intricate rockwork to increase vertical complexity, environmental options, and act as embedded heating and cooling elements; tree structures and a deadfall made from Forest Stewardship Council-certified trees; and a food zipline that simulates prey.
See Also: A series of green bridges will connect these two towers in Shenzhen, China
The Lion House will feature new opportunities for human guests as well. The design places visitors directly in the center of the habitat and large expanses of glass on the inside and outside of the building will allow guests to view the lions from up close.
Goettsch Partners is the architect for the project and PJA is the exhibit designer.
Related Stories
| Jan 19, 2015
HAO unveils designs for a 3D movie museum in China
New York-based HAO has released designs for the proposed Bolong 3D Movie Museum & Mediatek in Tianjin.
| Jan 13, 2015
Steven Holl unveils design for $450 million redevelopment of Houston's Museum of Fine Arts
Holl designed the campus’ north side to be a pedestrian-centered cultural hub on a lively landscape with ample underground parking.
| Jan 2, 2015
Construction put in place enjoyed healthy gains in 2014
Construction consultant FMI foresees—with some caveats—continuing growth in the office, lodging, and manufacturing sectors. But funding uncertainties raise red flags in education and healthcare.
| Dec 29, 2014
'Russian nesting doll' design provides unique fire protection solution for movie negatives
A major movie studio needed a new vault to protect its irreplaceable negatives for films released after 1982. SmithGroupJJR came up with a box-in-a-box design solution. It was named a Great Solution by the editors of Building Design+Construction.
| Dec 28, 2014
AIA course: Enhancing interior comfort while improving overall building efficacy
Providing more comfortable conditions to building occupants has become a top priority in today’s interior designs. This course is worth 1.0 AIA LU/HSW.
| Dec 22, 2014
Skanska to build Miami’s Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science
Designed by Grimshaw Architects, the 250,000-sf museum will serve as an economic engine and cultural anchor for Miami’s fast-growing urban core.
| Dec 15, 2014
Studio Gang tapped for American Museum of Natural History expansion
Chicago-based Studio Gang Architects has been commissioned to design the $325 million Gilder Center for Science, Education and Innovation at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
| Dec 9, 2014
Steven Holl wins Mumbai City Museum competition with 'solar water' scheme
Steven Holl's design for the new wing features a reflective pool that will generate energy.
| Dec 2, 2014
Main attractions: New list tallies up the Top 10 museums completed this year
The list includes both additions to existing structures and entirely new buildings, from Frank Gehry's Foundation Louis Vuitton in Paris to Shigeru Ban's Aspen (Colo.) Art Museum.
