Woodland Park Zoo - West Entry

Part of a long-range physical development plan, the new main entrance for Woodland Park Zoo replaces two smaller entrances at the north and west sides of the park. The new entry area contains ticketing facilities, a new membership service facility, a new zoo retail store, restrooms, and a visitor assistance facility.  Thoughtful green design reduces heat islands and light pollution and the treats stormwater on-site before discharge, all important features for reduce urban impacts on habitat.  Ultra-low flow fixtures should reduce potable water use by about 45% over code.  On the construction side, the project features high amounts of recycled content and regional materials, and earned an exemplary performance point for recycling over 95% of the construction waste.

O’Brien & Company worked as LEED Project Manager for the design team from design development through LEED certification and provided LEED documentation assistance to the contractor.  Beginning with a review of green features in the design and developing plans for LEED certification, O’Brien & Company played a key role in getting the details of LEED credits fully documented.  Examples include devising a method for documenting three separate mechanical systems in one LEED project, allowing clarity for the LEED Reviewers to award the credit, and tracking down the details for the recycled and regional materials credit.   As a result the new Woodland Park Zoo West Entry received LEED Gold certification in early 2011.