Award-Winning Zoo Architects

As an award-winning zoo architect, Hasenstab Architects was privileged to be part of the design team for Akron Zoo’s Mike & Mary Stark Grizzly Ridge exhibit which includes habitats for grizzly bears, wolves, coyotes, otters, eagles, and native birds.

The attractions are situated along a winding path that traverses a dramatic grade change, allowing multiple views of the animals from varied heights. Exhibit features include underwater viewing areas for grizzlies and otters, a 45-foot tall walk-in aviary with a rope bridge and treehouse, a mid-1850’s themed bear building with a covered porch, and a tube slide through the otter water feature. Interactive thematic elements reinforce the Zoo’s message of conservation and the connection to historic Ohio.

Sustainable design features include a green roof, bio-retention basin and a water reclamation system that allows 100% of the water from pools from the habitats to be reused. These features, as well as many other sustainable elements, further the Akron Zoo’s mission of conservation of not only wildlife, but of all natural resources. Throughout the exhibit, which is LEED Silver Certified, visitors are provided with information about the sustainability methods used in its design and construction.

Designing animal enclosures draws upon the specialized expertise of a zoo architect such as paying careful consideration to the durability of the materials that were used. For instance, the 4,000-square-foot “bear building” was constructed with cast-in-place concrete instead of masonry to withstand the destructive and often curious nature of some of the animals such as grizzly bears who might pick at the joints. The exhibit’s design was also carefully planned to uphold the highest level of safety, while still providing an environment that mimics the animals’ natural habitats.