WOODLAND PARK ZOO
Banyan Wilds Exhibit

Location: Seattle, WA

Owner: Woodland Park Zoo

Structural Engineer: MLA Engineering

Phase I, Otters and Aviary
Phase II, Tigers and Sloth Bears
 

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Phase I: The Bamboo Forest Reserve exhibit included designing the concrete otter night quarters building, a tropical aviary, and a children’s play area. The design included the following site features; a steel-framed acoustic and otter barrier fence, concrete retaining walls, an overhead entry gate, wood roof, a buried concrete LSS vault, tensioned-cable playground structures, and a shotcrete pool. The otter building is constructed of concrete walls with a wooden roof. The building floor is a concrete structural slab with grade beams bearing on driven steel pipe pin piles. This slab design was required to limit the need for excavation and soil compaction, to protect the roots of an existing tree next to the otter building. 

Phase II: Structures included a Conservation Action Center, animal holding areas, training stations, viewing shelters, exhibits, and other support elements and structures. The Conservation Action Center was constructed on structural slabs with grade beams bearing on driven steel pipe pin piles to limit the need for excavation and soil compaction to protect existing tree roots beneath the buildings. Phase II also included the renovation and expansion of the tiger holding area along with the renovation of the bear viewing area. Site feature designs include shotcrete pools and features, fences, and animal barriers.