Equilibrium Engineers
This was a wholesale replacement and expansion of the Asian Elephant Exhibit and Habitat that originally opened in 1959. New structural site work consists of a new elevated trestle for the zoo train, a pedestrian bridge, shade shelters and a perimeter cable barrier in the outdoor elephant habitat, over 3200 lineal feet of tied-back retaining walls for a new service road and outdoor habitat ravines, interpretive kiosks, and artwork. Especially challenging was the lack of standards for loads and deflection limitations associated with elephant management structures. With the help of zoo staff, each structural component that could be touched by an elephant was designed for loading conditions that were specific to its location and purpose within the overall project.