Entry Building at Assiniboine Park Zoo
Entry Building at Assiniboine Park Zoo Lot Size: 87,120 sf | Building Size: 11,800 sf | Winnipeg, MB | Project Type: Civic
The majestic and inviting Entry Building at Assiniboine Park Zoo replaces an existing 10' x 10' ticketing facility and a 12' x 12' storage structure. On a complex site and within a constrained budget, it meets several challenges: • Increase visibility from the street • Establish a stronger welcoming presence • Respond to extreme weather, providing an allseasons transitional space • Support diverse program requirements • Serve as a visible expression of the zoo’s ongoing mission and new conservation ethos The building’s concept and form were inspired by the zoo’s mission: building empathy with nature, fostering a sense of anticipation and discovery, and creating memorable experiences. •
Empathy with Nature - The low profile of the east and west wings emulate the surrounding Winnipeg plains landscape, each extending into the airy central pavilion. The overlapping layers of the building’s roof blend the indoors with the outdoors, and unite the building with its site.
•
Anticipation/Discovery - The central glass pavilion fosters a sense of anticipation and discovery by providing immediate visual access to the zoo. From the road, and even more so from the parking lot, one
can see through the building’s elegant glazed facade to the trees and rolling landscape of the zoo beyond. •
Memorable Experiences - The pavilion’s high wood ceiling, expansive glass exterior, and branching structural “trees” create an open, airy and bright gateway to the zoo. Delightful, awe-inspiring, memorable—this is more than a place to buy a ticket; it sets the tone for an exciting and engaging visitor experience.
The energy-conscious design of the entry building minimizes the need for mechanical and energy systems. Using natural ventilation, the pavilion is an unconditioned space that simply offers shade from the hot summer sun and shelter from cold Manitoba winter winds. Stormwater is managed naturally through infiltration before it reaches underground storm systems using bioswales, pervious paving and native plantings. The community’s pride in their zoo—the second oldest in North America—is generational, passed on from grandparents to parents to children. Sited along a major thoroughfare, the new entry building provides a visible expression of the connection between site, community and zoo, boosting civic awareness of a place that has long been part of this community. It is an iconic expression of both the city’s ability to engage in sustainable, progressive architecture, and the community’s appreciation of nature’s awe-inspiring qualities.
ASSIN
Even during master planning, a primary goal for this project was to establish a beacon—a big, warm, welcoming Zoo presence. The Zoo sought to increase its visibility from the road day and night, to announce and invite.
ASSINIBOINE PARK ZOO
RO BL IN BLVD
ASSINIBOINE PARK CONSERVANCY
EN TR Y
ASSINIBOINE PARK
SENSE OF ENTRY: Intentional arrival
IBOINE RIVER
TUXEDO GOLF CLUB
1 2 3 4 5 6
Zoo Boundary Loading Dock Main Entrance Staff Entrance Roblin Blvd Parking Entrance
2
1 3
4
6
5
WAYFINDING: Clear circulation & legible entry experience
Projecting a two-fold increase in attendance, the Zoo required clear and obvious entry points for guests arriving by car, bus, bike and on foot. Hardscape, planting, and bioswales are used to guide circulation while maintaining a sense of openness—a real invitation to enter.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 4
8
7
Zoo
9 10
1
5
6
8
11
9
12 12
16 21
2
17
3 10
11
20
18 18
13 15
14 15
22
6
14
13
23 19
24
16 17 18 19 20
Traffic flow supports revenue-producing retail area Revenue-producing retail space is highly visible from the main entry and from the zoo side as well. A reading/activities area further promotes entering the retail area, while receiving is ideally located for vehicles and for retail employees.
21
Entry from Parking
FUNCTIONALITY: Intentional program adjacencies
22 23 24
Receiving storage Security Retail office Men Family Washroom Janitor Women Washroom Corridor Reading/Activity Area Retail Entry Hall Guest Services Cash Lost and Found Staff Lounge Office First Aid Changing Staff Locker Corridor Stroller & Wheelchair Storage M/E Washroom HC Washroom
A large, airy pavilion is the gateway for visitors between the arrival/parking area and the zoo itself. Expansive windows extend views into the landscape beyond.
ANTICIPATION & DISCOVERY: Gateway to something new & exciting
Existing tree branching patterns at the Assiniboine Park Zoo
Early sketch of zoo entry structure / identity
Part of the Zoo’s mission is to build empathy with nature. The “trees” inside do that—and more. Their branches are working structural members that hold the roof aloft.
INSPIRATION & INVENTION: Structural members become branching trees
Carefully chosen materials and tapering “branches” reference natural elements to create a clean and light, yet grounded, character.
IDENTITY: Integrated into the natural fabric of the site
The building’s roof is made up of multiple overlapping layers. Lower layers extend into the pavilion, bridging the space between inside and outside, and allowing visitors to transition gracefully.
UNITY: Bringing the outside in, structurally
Corrugated metal siding penetrates the glass in one direction; warm, wood ceiling slats and beams extend out the other. These extending and overlapping layers, the “trees” inside, and the expansive windows create a space that connects the ground to the sky.
UNITY: Bringing the outside in, materially—and vice versa
Energy Reduction Large windows bring passive solar heat into the core of the building
Energy Reduction Naturally ventilated pavilion provides indoor/outdoor air flow
Stormwater Management Pervious pavers reduce runoff and allow stormwater to infiltrate into the ground
Energy Reduction Energy-efficient LED and fluorescent light fixtures illuminate the pavilion and conserve energy
Energy Reduction East & west wings can be closed off, allowing the central section to function alone for events
Stormwater Management Bioswales collect stormwater, managing runoff naturally above ground before it reaches the municipal sewer system
Native Planting Site-appropriate native plants reduce need for maintenance and irrigation
Environment Friendly Low VOC paints, adhesives, sealants and flooring ensure a non-toxic interior and have lower impact during manufacturing
ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY: Green technologies & practices
S um
Ventilation Stack
mer
S un
Temperature Fluctuation The glass pavilion is an unconditioned space that provides guests with momentary shelter. Its temperature fluctuation is 40°F in winter to 75°F in summer, greater than typical in an indoor space. Winter mode takes advantage of solar gain; summer mode uses natural ventilation to draw air out.
er W in t
Energy Reduction Energy-efficient LED and fluorescent light fixtures Naturally ventilated pavilion
S un
Energy Reduction Passive solar gain heats the pavilion in cold winter months, while the roof overhang provides shade during the summer. Native Planting
High Performance Glazing
B ioswale
Stormwater Management Bioswales located around the building collect stormwater runoff before it reaches municipal systems.
in g E n tr y S o u th F ac
Stormwater Management Permeable pavers reduce runoff, allowing stormwater to infiltrate into the ground.
ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY: Minimizing need for mechanical/energy systems
The entry building sets a memorable tone for zoo visits while offering a visible expression of the zoo’s ongoing mission and new presence. It has comfortably accommodated record-breaking winter attendance marked by a 242% increase in visitation in the first quarter of 2015 compared to this same period of 2014.
SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION: Enlivening the zoo experience
LASTING IMPRESSION: Part of the natural landscape, part of the community
The majestic and inviting Entry Building at Assiniboine Park Zoo replaces an existing 10' x 10' ticketing facility and a 12' x 12' storage structure. On a complex site and within a constrained budget, it meets several challenges: • Increase visibility from the street • Establish a stronger welcoming presence • Respond to extreme weather, providing an allseasons transitional space • Support diverse program requirements • Serve as a visible expression of the zoo’s ongoing mission and new conservation ethos The building’s concept and form were inspired by the zoo’s mission: building empathy with nature, fostering a sense of anticipation and discovery, and creating memorable experiences. •
Empathy with Nature - The low profile of the east and west wings emulate the surrounding Winnipeg plains landscape, each extending into the airy central pavilion. The overlapping layers of the building’s roof blend the indoors with the outdoors, and unite the building with its site.
•
Anticipation/Discovery - The central glass pavilion fosters a sense of anticipation and discovery by providing immediate visual access to the zoo. From the road, and even more so from the parking lot, one
can see through the building’s elegant glazed facade to the trees and rolling landscape of the zoo beyond. •
Memorable Experiences - The pavilion’s high wood ceiling, expansive glass exterior, and branching structural “trees” create an open, airy and bright gateway to the zoo. Delightful, awe-inspiring, memorable—this is more than a place to buy a ticket; it sets the tone for an exciting and engaging visitor experience.
The energy-conscious design of the entry building minimizes the need for mechanical and energy systems. Using natural ventilation, the pavilion is an unconditioned space that simply offers shade from the hot summer sun and shelter from cold Manitoba winter winds. Stormwater is managed naturally through infiltration before it reaches underground storm systems using bioswales, pervious paving and native plantings. The community’s pride in their zoo—the second oldest in North America—is generational, passed on from grandparents to parents to children. Sited along a major thoroughfare, the new entry building provides a visible expression of the connection between site, community and zoo, boosting civic awareness of a place that has long been part of this community. It is an iconic expression of both the city’s ability to engage in sustainable, progressive architecture, and the community’s appreciation of nature’s awe-inspiring qualities.
ASSIN
Even during master planning, a primary goal for this project was to establish a beacon—a big, warm, welcoming Zoo presence. The Zoo sought to increase its visibility from the road day and night, to announce and invite.
ASSINIBOINE PARK ZOO
RO BL IN BLVD
ASSINIBOINE PARK CONSERVANCY
EN TR Y
ASSINIBOINE PARK
SENSE OF ENTRY: Intentional arrival
IBOINE RIVER
TUXEDO GOLF CLUB
1 2 3 4 5 6
Zoo Boundary Loading Dock Main Entrance Staff Entrance Roblin Blvd Parking Entrance
2
1 3
4
6
5
WAYFINDING: Clear circulation & legible entry experience
Projecting a two-fold increase in attendance, the Zoo required clear and obvious entry points for guests arriving by car, bus, bike and on foot. Hardscape, planting, and bioswales are used to guide circulation while maintaining a sense of openness—a real invitation to enter.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 4
8
7
Zoo
9 10
1
5
6
8
11
9
12 12
16 21
2
17
3 10
11
20
18 18
13 15
14 15
22
6
14
13
23 19
24
16 17 18 19 20
Traffic flow supports revenue-producing retail area Revenue-producing retail space is highly visible from the main entry and from the zoo side as well. A reading/activities area further promotes entering the retail area, while receiving is ideally located for vehicles and for retail employees.
21
Entry from Parking
FUNCTIONALITY: Intentional program adjacencies
22 23 24
Receiving storage Security Retail office Men Family Washroom Janitor Women Washroom Corridor Reading/Activity Area Retail Entry Hall Guest Services Cash Lost and Found Staff Lounge Office First Aid Changing Staff Locker Corridor Stroller & Wheelchair Storage M/E Washroom HC Washroom
A large, airy pavilion is the gateway for visitors between the arrival/parking area and the zoo itself. Expansive windows extend views into the landscape beyond.
ANTICIPATION & DISCOVERY: Gateway to something new & exciting
Existing tree branching patterns at the Assiniboine Park Zoo
Early sketch of zoo entry structure / identity
Part of the Zoo’s mission is to build empathy with nature. The “trees” inside do that—and more. Their branches are working structural members that hold the roof aloft.
INSPIRATION & INVENTION: Structural members become branching trees
Carefully chosen materials and tapering “branches” reference natural elements to create a clean and light, yet grounded, character.
IDENTITY: Integrated into the natural fabric of the site
The building’s roof is made up of multiple overlapping layers. Lower layers extend into the pavilion, bridging the space between inside and outside, and allowing visitors to transition gracefully.
UNITY: Bringing the outside in, structurally
Corrugated metal siding penetrates the glass in one direction; warm, wood ceiling slats and beams extend out the other. These extending and overlapping layers, the “trees” inside, and the expansive windows create a space that connects the ground to the sky.
UNITY: Bringing the outside in, materially—and vice versa
Energy Reduction Large windows bring passive solar heat into the core of the building
Energy Reduction Naturally ventilated pavilion provides indoor/outdoor air flow
Stormwater Management Pervious pavers reduce runoff and allow stormwater to infiltrate into the ground
Energy Reduction Energy-efficient LED and fluorescent light fixtures illuminate the pavilion and conserve energy
Energy Reduction East & west wings can be closed off, allowing the central section to function alone for events
Stormwater Management Bioswales collect stormwater, managing runoff naturally above ground before it reaches the municipal sewer system
Native Planting Site-appropriate native plants reduce need for maintenance and irrigation
Environment Friendly Low VOC paints, adhesives, sealants and flooring ensure a non-toxic interior and have lower impact during manufacturing
ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY: Green technologies & practices
S um
Ventilation Stack
mer
S un
Temperature Fluctuation The glass pavilion is an unconditioned space that provides guests with momentary shelter. Its temperature fluctuation is 40°F in winter to 75°F in summer, greater than typical in an indoor space. Winter mode takes advantage of solar gain; summer mode uses natural ventilation to draw air out.
er W in t
Energy Reduction Energy-efficient LED and fluorescent light fixtures Naturally ventilated pavilion
S un
Energy Reduction Passive solar gain heats the pavilion in cold winter months, while the roof overhang provides shade during the summer. Native Planting
High Performance Glazing
B ioswale
Stormwater Management Bioswales located around the building collect stormwater runoff before it reaches municipal systems.
in g E n tr y S o u th F ac
Stormwater Management Permeable pavers reduce runoff, allowing stormwater to infiltrate into the ground.
ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY: Minimizing need for mechanical/energy systems
The entry building sets a memorable tone for zoo visits while offering a visible expression of the zoo’s ongoing mission and new presence. It has comfortably accommodated record-breaking winter attendance marked by a 242% increase in visitation in the first quarter of 2015 compared to this same period of 2014.
SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION: Enlivening the zoo experience
LASTING IMPRESSION: Part of the natural landscape, part of the community
