Project Overview
The Giraffe Barn Project was precipitated by the need to expand the Zoo's giraffe program with a new state-of-the-art giraffe housing and care facility and new elevated viewing deck for Zoo visitors.

The design intent was to invite the Zoo visitor into the world of the giraffe. The placement of the viewing deck is surrounded on three sides by the giraffe roaming area. The deck is raised and accessed by an elegant dual ramp, transitioning the Zoo visitors into the giraffe's taller world. Adults and children alike meet these incredible animals eye to eye, providing a hands-on and up-close experience that both raises awareness of giraffes and promotes future participation in giraffe conservation efforts. The expansive space, views, and the opportunity to interact with the giraffes is an engaging and rewarding expirence for all Zoo visitors.

The textures, materials, and details are both rustic and refined with an eye toward an aesthetic gesture to the color of the giraffes. The giraffe motif is reinforced by using giraffe profiles in the structural brackets at the viewing platform and the shutters of the barn. All efforts are made to transport the viewer into the 14' high world of the magnificent giraffe.