GMC worked with the Birmingham Zoo to create a master plan as well as design the New Arrival Experience and Asian Passage for Alabama’s most popular tourist destination with 450,000 visitors a year.
There was a full design team collaboration on location with zoo staff, the design team and stakeholders for positioning of the new administration buildings, to form a gateway plaza that would handle the flow of large crowds, be a venue for events and command a dramatic view of the overall zoo using native materials and sustainable stormwater management.
The goal was to design a modern facility that complemented the existing zoo and incorporated natural materials in an interesting way. The materials used on the project were regionally inspired. The stone is quarried in central Alabama; steel was used to highlight Birmingham's history as a major steel producer; and the wood is from tree species that are native to Alabama.
Enhancing the overall guest experience was the number one priority, with more open space, additional ticketing lanes, new amenities and a greater variety of spaces to accommodate different programs. Upon entering, guests are welcomed by a circular paved area, featuring the profiles of the zoo animals etched in stone, enhancing the central plaza. Beyond the plaza, the space opens up to the event lawn. This lawn allows large groups to gather and is sloped so that visitors can sit and view entertainment featured on the south end stage. Circular stone formations provide seating for informal groups at the upper end of the lawn, along with a naturalistic play area with a shredded wood carpet and wood form structures that encourage interactive play.
One unique feature of this site is the spring that provided water to the original ponds. Now it flows under the event lawn. Special drainage infrastructure was developed to keep the lawn dry and harvest the water in an underground cistern. This water is used to irrigate the lawn, plaza, and rooftop gardens. Overflow of the cistern provides water for the flamingo exhibit downstream of the event lawn and makes its way to nearby Shades Creek.
Education was another key component to the design. The opportunity that thousands of children from Birmingham and beyond will have to learn about animals and the importance of conservation efforts in places most of them may never see firsthand is one of the greatest benefits of this project. The new multipurpose indoor space can be used for indoor animal encounters and other educational programs, while shaded outdoor spaces allow guests to interact and take photos with reptiles, birds and small mammals.
GMC is one of the most comprehensive multi-disciplined architecture and engineering firms in the Southeast.
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