Zoo Building Caters to the Human Animal

The latest building under construction at Woodland Park Zoo isn't meant to house four-legged creatures.

It's meant to educate and entertain two-legged ones.

Called the Zoomazium, the 8,500-sq.-ft. building will be used for lectures and contain interactive exhibits and computer stations

The building, designed by Mithun of Seattle, is slated to receive a silver LEED rating. The most visible sustainable feature is the green roof, planted with 21,000 native plants, according to project manager Juan Gonzales of Kirtley Cole Construction of Snohomish.

The building is the first sustainable structure in Kirtley Cole's repertoire.

The roof contains several different layers, starting with a coconut fiber material. Because the roof has a curved radius, a large steel gutter helps keep the plants in place. Plants include salal, wild onion and kinnikinick. The 70-ft. steel roof trusses proved formidable, especially when being erected in close quarters like the zoo. The trusses were trucked in and assembled onsite. Close proximity to other zoo buildings, and large trees made placement a precise maneuver.

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The flexibility of the building is apparent in its design. All the HVAC and electrical systems run under the floor and are easily accessed by unscrewing floor panels.

"When exhibits are changed, computers and electrical outlets can be easily moved around," Gonzales said.

The walls near the stage area use a similar system.

The building should be ready by summer.