Across the Globe

Coming in Summer of 2013...

Thu, 24 May 2012 21:11:00 GMT

Como Zoo's Gorilla Forest Exhibit! Check out this great video featuring Mark Beauchamp, Principal at CLR, in which he gives us a preview into the exciting design for this new exhibit!

Award of Excellence: African Elephant Crossing

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 19:08:00 GMT

We would like to congratulate Cleveland Metroparks Zoo on their Award of Excellence: New Construction, Large Project, for African Elephant Crossing. The award was given by the Cleveland Engineering Society in recognition of vision, perseverance and planning to create a world class zoological exhibit enhancing experience of both elephants and humans through innovative and sustainable architecture, design and construction. CLR is proud to have partnered with Cleveland Metroparks Zoo on this design effort.

Rocky Shores Construction Update

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:55:00 GMT

Rocky Shores exhibit construction at Utah's Hogle Zoo is progressing right on target! Check out the latest photo below.

And for more construction photos, visit our Facebook page.

Rocky Shores Construction Continues into the New Year

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:15:00 GMT

Here is what the Rocky Shores exhibit site at Utah's Hogle Zoo looks like today. Scroll through the blog posts to see the previous photos and keep checking back for progress updates.

Denver Zoo's Asian Tropics

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:52:00 GMT

Wondering what's happening over at the Denver Zoo? Get yourself up to speed by reading Denver Zoo finishing world-class expansion for elepants and friends by Electa Draper of The Denver Post. Just click the link below.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19294110

Rocky Shores Construction Update

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:14:00 GMT

Check out the progress at the Rocky Shores exhibit site at Utah's Hogle Zoo. Everything is right on target for the Summer 2012 opening! Come back next month for another construction photo.

To see more construction photos, visit our Facebook page.

Round of Applause

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 06:25:00 GMT

CLR would like to congratulate all of the 2011 AZA Honors and Award Winners.

We are proud to be part of the design team for two of this year’s award winning exhibits, Museum of Living Art (Top Honors) at the Fort Worth Zoo and Giants of the Savanna (Significant Achievement) at the Dallas Zoo. Museum of Living Art is a state of the art Herpetarium that brings guests eye-to-eye with many exotic and endangered amphibian and reptile species. Giants of the Savanna is an 11-acre, mixed species, multi-habitat that creates various animal enrichment opportunities and encounters, as well as, panoramic vistas to enhance the visitor experience.

We would also like to congratulate the Denver Zoo on being recognized with Top Honors in the Green Award Category. CLR is thrilled to help facilitate Denver’s green vision in our work together on Asian Tropics (opening Spring 2012).

Please visit our Facebook page for photos of these award winning exhibits.

Stumped?

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:04:00 GMT

How well did you do on the 2011 AZA Annual Conference Photo Game created by CLR?

CLICK HERE FOR THE ANSWERS

Rocky Shores Under Construction!

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:51:00 GMT

Construction is well underway at Utah’s Hogle Zoo for a new and exciting Rocky Shores exhibit that will feature polar bears, brown bears, seals, river otters, sea lions, and bald eagles! With an anticipated opening in early Summer 2012 we wanted to share the progress with you.

The foreground of the photo will become the main visitor path winding down the hill from the east of the otter and eagle habitats then south toward the seal and sea lion cove overlook. On the south end of the seal and sea lion pool will be the amphitheater where visitors will get up close underwater views of the agile animals swimming. When completed, the Underwater View Building will immerse Zoo visitors in an underwater world where polar bears, seals and sea lions can be seen swimming adjacently.

Check back next month to see Rocky Shores’ progress when we post an updated construction photo!

To see more construction photos check out our Facebook page.

Philadelphia Zoo Unveils Treetop Trail

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 06:13:00 GMT

Philadelphia Zoo Unveils Treetop Trail, A New Innovative Elevated Exhibit Allowing Primates to Travel and Explore

(July 28, 2011) - The Philadelphia Zoo is excited to unveil its newest exhibit, perhaps its most innovative to date. Treetop Trail is a system of elevated passageways and lookouts situated among the treetops for primates to travel and explore.

America’s first Zoo is reinventing the zoo experience for the 21st century, from both an animal and a visitor perspective. With the introduction of Treetop Trail, animal residents have the opportunity to range far from their usual homes, providing visitors the unexpected thrill of witnessing these explorations.

“We think the opportunity to travel long distances and move high in the trees will be incredibly rewarding for arboreal animals like monkeys and lemurs,” says Dr. Andy Baker, Chief Operating Officer. “The environment changes day-to-day for each primate group, as the different species time-share different parts of the system. The animals using the system will be exposed to a wide variety of new and changing visual stimuli, including local wildlife like bugs and birds, other Zoo animals, and the activities of our staff and guests, says Baker.

Although the idea of using bridges and pathways has been explored at other zoos and animal sanctuaries, this system, made of flexible stainless steel mesh is unique in the combination of its length - approximately 700 feet - and the opportunity for a wide variety of species to range from their usual homes. Treetop Trail transforms and activates the dynamic for both human and non-human primates, introducing the element of surprise and adventure.

“We are excited to offer both animals and guests this opportunity, says Vikram H. Dewan, the Zoo’s President and CEO. “This new system offers ways for animals and visitors alike to experience the Zoo in a more meaningful way. This new exhibit continues the Zoo’s mission of conservation and excellence in every way,” says Dewan.

The mesh system encircles Impala Plaza, extending through the existing ring of trees. Monkeys and lemurs exit their indoor exhibits at the back of the Rare Animal Conservation Center and travel, crossing over the visitor path on each side of the Plaza. Different species will “timeshare” the system each day.

“This new exhibit helps the Philadelphia Zoo carry out its goal as a place of dynamic design and extraordinary innovation that allows the animals to experience new habitats and activities within flexible and convertible spaces. This grant is an investment in the remarkable vision Mr. Dewan and his team has for the Philadelphia Zoo and its future as one of the most exciting and unique Zoo’s in the nation,” says Jeremy Nowak, President,William Penn Foundation.

Key partners of the project include: Leadership Donors: The William Penn Foundation and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Faris; Architects/Designers: CLR Design and Jon Coe; General Contractor: W. H. Myers Construction Company. The total cost for the project was $1.5 million, which included design, construction, modifications to accommodate the trail system and other costs.

Article Courtesy of the Philadelphia Zoo
http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/getdoc/f0d35157-962f-46f8-ae79-8cfe18ca7d42/.htm

Be Our Guest

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 20:25:00 GMT

We design for a very unique clientele, and while we would absolutely love to invite some of them to visit our Philadelphia office, the building manager wasn’t sure that the freight elevator could accommodate Willy, the 13,000 pound bull elephant from The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. While it is unfortunate that we cannot give Willy a tour of our office, we were very pleased when two ambassadors came in his place. Steve Taylor, director of the Cleveland Zoo, and Brian Zimmerman, Executive Director of Cleveland Metroparks joined us along with the Schultz and Williams’ Team at our center city office for a day of strategic planning meetings. While they were here, they were able to meet the entire staff, collaborate on ideas for the future of the Cleveland Zoo, and even venture out to the famous Reading Terminal for a traditional Philadelphia Cheesesteak! We enjoyed having the opportunity to host this workshop, and we are looking forward to the next one!

Creative Recycling

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 18:05:00 GMT

As spring slowly rolled in we decided it was time to give our office a little bit of a makeover. As a tribute to our LEED gold certification we wanted to transform our space using materials that have been invading our lawns, gathering in our model room, hiding in boxes, and filling our recycling buckets. Our theme was simple. We spend our days dreaming up creative, innovative and immersive exhibits for our animal friends, so why not make one for ourselves? We wanted to create “exhibit” spaces that would make visitors curious, feel inspired, or even laugh. We made trees with cut up cardboard boxes, a zen garden for our friend Coco, a bamboo forest to bring a mural to life, and craft-paper vines that have taken over our walls. Sculptures and figurines, hand-made and collected through our travels, have been displayed throughout our office and much fun has been had arranging and rearranging them (and then rearranging some more) based on our experience of how animals interact in the wild. We have had a wonderful time enhancing our habitat, and if you are ever in Philadelphia we would love to give you a tour!

If you want to see more of our creations check out our pictures on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Philadelphia-PA/CLR-Design

Stumped?

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:42:00 GMT

How well did you do on the 2010 AZA Annual Conference Crossword created by CLR?

CLICK HERE FOR THE ANSWERS

New Life for Samples!

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 20:34:00 GMT

CLR recently participated in SpecSimple.com’s Save A Sample!™ – a creative and green solution for giving unused brochures, fabrics and finish cards a new life. The materials are delivered to design schools with the help of local furniture dealers. Rachel Thurston, architectural designer, headed up the effort for CLR, which resulted in more than double the amount originally pledged for the donation including samples of tile, mesh/metals, paint, flooring, countertop pieces, wood, plastics, and glass – a total of 15 boxes! CLR was proud to learn that the talented students at Drexel University in Philadelphia were the recipients of our donated materials and will now have a much richer set of resources to choose from during the year.

June Photo Game Available

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:26:00 GMT

This month's photo game is now available. Click on the link under the Eagle Eye Safari logo to play. Last month's answers are also available in case you were stumped!

Don't forget to check back at the beginning of each month for a new challenge.

Good Luck!