Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/178290
PHOTOS: REUBEN KRABBE/LUMICPHOTO.COM Penguin Plunge – Calgary Zoo by Stacey Carefoot hen the major players in a project gather to discuss design as it relates to life-support systems, they're usually dealing with human life and the systems are, for the most part, consistent. The design of an enclosure that is going to house life of the penguin kind has a unique set of considerations and challenges. The Calgary Zoo continues to add to its evolving landscape with the addition of the new Penguin Plunge exhibit. "Our zoo is set up in geographic zones, lacking in our collection was representation from the polar climates," says Laurie Skene, communications manager at the Calgary Zoo. "This exhibit gives us the opportunity to teach people what issues those animals in the polar regions of the world are facing." At a cost of $24.5 million, Penguin Plunge is a scaled-back version of an original Antarctic Landing plan that would have seen polar bears and beluga whales join the penguins. The previous plan included a pool the size of a football ield and a $100-million price tag. "When the boom hit Calgary, our costs tripled almost overnight. We regrouped and began to move forward with Penguin Plunge," says Skene. Seattle-based The Portico Group became involved with the zoo during the initial design phase, bringing to the table an extensive amount of experience creating environments that provide opportunities for the public to interact with nature. "Our number one concern is the health and welfare of the animals, in this case birds, that will be living in the environment we create," says Maren Coleman, senior associate with The Portico Group. Coleman and her coworkers – though most are architects by trade – could be considered conservationists at heart. "On projects like this, we have an opportunity to W Penguin Plunge – Calgary Zoo p.54-59 700 west8_Penguins.indd 57 endear people to animals and, hopefully, improve the lives of their wild counterparts by fostering greater awareness of species behavioral and habitat needs," says Coleman. Located to the left of the main entrance, the exterior exhibit of Penguin Plunge is part of the new coastal-themed entry plaza. Greeted by mammoth rock formations alluding to the landscape of Antarctica, visitors begin interacting with the exhibit immediately. The 9,041-square-foot gift shop's exterior has a warm, rustic feel with glulam timber and rundle stone exterior this portion of the project adds a relaxing element of warmth to the environment. The patio is situated so the outdoor exhibit can be viewed from that location. The outdoor exhibit features extensive shotcrete rock formations at a multitude of levels and angles, and a 9,200-gallon pool complete with waterfalls and islands. "This exhibit is very technically complex," says Laurie Skene. The Calgary Zoo teamed up with The Portico Group and Calgary's division of Dialog to come up with a LEED-accredited project it for a king-king penguin. (The king penguins will be joined by rockhoppers, gentoos and Humbolts, four of the 50 species of penguins.) As visitors enter the 22,930-square-foot pavilion, they are iltered through the exhibit on a walkway that features viewing panels built into the loor thru which penguins can be seen swimming underneath. Interactive displays and educational signage are placed throughout the exhibit. The indoor penguin enclosure boasts a 32,000-gallon pool with extensive shotcrete work simulating naturalistic rock and ice formations. Overhead, the domed ceiling re lects lighting that is programmed to glow like the moonlight and the Aurora Australis. "The ambient lighting is programmed to mimic Calgary's light cycle while UVA and UVB lighting is used to assist the penguin's molting cycles," says Skene. The structure that houses this incredible habitat is constructed on a pile foundation system. "We chose this system because the location of the exhibit was previously used to store ill; it is built partially into a hillside," says Alana Redding with Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd. "The pool was formed with concrete structural slabs and grade beams at varying elevations to support the different levels and areas within the exhibit." The remainder was built using structural steel and precast concrete sandwich panels. Despite dealing with unique and often challenging soil conditions, Redding and her team were able to deliver a structure capable of carrying the substantial combined weight of the exhibit pools and rock formations. Small concrete structures hidden behind the exhibit rock formations were created to support the acrylic viewing panels placed along the viewing APRIL 2012 /57 3/26/12 2:27:41 PM