2024 Texas & Louisiana Best Projects
Award of Merit, Sports/Entertainment - Oklahoma City Zoo Expedition Africa
Photo by Simon Hurst
OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO: EXHIBITION AFRICA
Oklahoma City
Award of Merit
Submitted by: Timberlake Construction
OWNER City Zoological Trust
LEAD DESIGN FIRM PGAV Destinations
GENERAL CONTRACTOR Timberlake Construction
CIVIL ENGINEER Wallace Design Collective
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Burgess Engineering & Testing
MEP ENGINEER EXP
An extensive 12-acre revitalization and expansion project included the renovation of the zoo’s iconic Pachyderm Building and the addition of a giraffe house, carnivore building and flamingo barn.
By blending historic preservation with habitats that exceed industry standards, this $27-million project revitalizes a key area of the zoo. Originally constructed in the 1960s, the Pachyderm Building once housed many of the zoo’s largest animals. While it can no longer house elephants and rhinos, the building has been transformed into an event space and now provides habitats for smaller species.
This jobsite presented several challenges, particularly in managing the safe and efficient movement of animals. Coordinating closely with the zoo staff was essential, especially when moving animals at varying hours. For instance, giraffes had to remain inside if the temperature exceeded a certain limit, and timing was crucial to determine when they could safely be outside.
Closing the main entrance required meticulous coordination to ensure construction workers could access necessary areas without interfering with zoo operations. This included rerouting the zoo’s usual access points and utilizing alternate gates.
Additionally, working in extreme heat—often above 100 degrees—demanded the contractor pay strict adherence to safety protocols to protect both the animals and the project team.
