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For an upgrade of the Oregon Zoo‘s elephant habitat, SRG Partnership was presented with the task of creating an enclosure to suit multiple 14,000-pound animals as well as human observers.

Rather than focusing on restricting the animals, however, SRG designed the new habitat to give them more freedom.

鈥淭he real shift comes from the elephants being able to make choices about being inside or outside,鈥� said Emily Dawson, an SRG associate. 鈥淭here will be big doors that will be open anytime during the year; they’ll be free to move indoors and outdoors.鈥�

The doors will lead to 鈥渘aturalistic鈥� indoor communal rooms for matriarchal social groups and bulls.

Two main outdoor spaces designed by SRG will look like the elephants’ natural habitat. Overall, the enclosure will hold six acres of green pastures, shallow splash pools, deep swim channels and mud pits.

To create space for the $50 million expansion, the zoo had to move both the wolf and elk exhibits. Eventually, the park’s railroad will be rerouted.

The Forest Center, a multistory elephant-viewing shelter, will be added. The habitat will be served by a ground-source thermal control system, which is planned as part of the first phase of a park-wide energy loop to support and adapt to emerging technologies, like conversion of waste to energy.

All elephant spaces in their building will be naturally lit during daylight hours, and聽much of the building will have a green roof. Dawson said the project team is targeting to at least achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver rating.

Some project elements are being tailored to the elephants’ size.

鈥淭he design of the walls is interesting, because they will need to be built out of thick concrete to withstand the charge of a 14,000-pound male bull,鈥� Dawson said. 鈥淏ut the ground is also made of all natural substrate, which will be better for their joints and feet.鈥澛�

鈥淥n the Boards鈥� is a weekly feature that spotlights local firms’ best design work. Submissions from architectural and engineering firms are encouraged. Please email [email protected] or call 503-802-7240.