Award of Merit Landscape/Hardscape/Urban Development

Photo courtesy of the city of Los Angeles
The project site covers more than six acres.

The Elephants of Asia project site covers 6.1 acres and consists of a new 16,600-sq-ft, state-of-the-art elephant barn, six visitor viewing areas and three water features.

According to the city of Los Angeles' Bureau of Engineering, which managed the design and construction of the $42-million project, the exhibit comprises four elephant yards, each with its own distinct character and story. The landscaping is reflective of the areas in Asia where elephants are native. The design goal was to create a facility that would educate visitors about the care of Asian elephants and encourage protection efforts through donations, the city says.

Key Players

Owner: City of Los Angeles

General Contractor: AKG Construction/Saifco Construction, Joint Venture, Woodland Hills

Lead Designer: The Portico Group, Seattle

Civil/Structural Engineer: KPFF Consulting, Los Angeles

MEP Engineer: Tsuchiyama, Kaino, Sun & Carter, Irvine

Landscape: Marina Landscape Inc., Anaheim

Submitted by:

Marina Landscape and City of Los Angeles, Dept. of Public Works, Bureau of Engineering