The Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum retained HEI to help them renovate the Black Bear exhibit to be both more comfortable for the bears as well as safer for viewers.
Various Projects at the Great Plains Zoo
Background
HEI has provided landscape architecture and site design services for several projects at the Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum. These projects include:
- Black Bear Exhibit Renovations (re-opened July 2022)
- Dakota Skipper Pollinator Gardens (under construction)
- New Lion and Meerkat Exhibit (design in progress)
Black Bear Exhibit
HEI was initially asked to assist with a conceptual plan illustrating the renovation of the Black Bear Exhibit. The overall renovation included a new viewing structure, fencing for both animal and human scale, updated climbing structures, and building renovations to better accommodate the safety of the animal handlers and bears themselves as the existing facilities were outdated and greatly in need of improvements.
HEI was then retained for the next phase of construction documents to assist with fencing design/detailing and overall landscape design of the interior and exterior of the exhibit.
The renovated exhibit opened in early July 2022. Learn more about this project in our StoryMap.
- Provided updated climbing structures for the overall well-being of the bears in the exhibit.
- Updated fencing for the safety of visitors and animals alike.
- Building renovations to better accommodate the safety of the animal handlers and the bears.
- New landscape design for visitors to enjoy.
Project Details
Client: The Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum
Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Project Highlights
- Provided updated climbing structures for the overall well-being of the bears in the exhibit.
- Updated fencing for the safety of visitors and animals alike.
- Building renovations to better accommodate the safety of the animal handlers and the bears.
- New landscape design for visitors to enjoy.
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