Ranked as one of the top zoological parks in the country, New Orleans' Audubon Zoo is home to some critically acclaimed exhibits that have set a standard for other zoos around the world. Audubon's latest project is the construction of a new orangutan exhibit, an elephant exhibit and a river water ride for guests. Spread across three acres, the new attractions have visually appealing designs to immerse visitors in the natural world.
But project architects and contractors say working in a zoo comes with its own set of issues involving wildlife. Atypical construction methods on zoo exhibits can also present challenges and add to delays. After almost nine months of unforeseen delays related to river levels and subsurface utilities, the contractor is back in full stride at the Audubon Zoo.