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The initial Oregon Zoo improvement projects backed by money from a recent bond measure are moving ahead.

Voters approved a $380 million bond measure in May 2024. A $3 million entry plaza and a $10.5 million covered shelter are included in the $19 million first phase, as outlined in the zoo’s campus plan. Both projects for the Southwest Portland attraction are proceeding through permitting and cost estimating processes.

The team includes owner Metro, architect Opsis Architecture, civil engineer Vega Civil Engineering, structural engineer Equilibrium Engineers, landscape architect Walker Macy, and general contractor Fortis Construction.

The entry plaza will extend from the back of the Cascade Crest building. A covered deck will provide protection from heat and inclement weather. Skylights will let in natural light.

鈥淲orking with Opsis Architecture to design a structure that works with an existing style as well as create a new design was rewarding,鈥� Beth Redmond-Jones, director of campus planning and development for the Oregon Zoo, stated in an email.

Redmond-Jones oversees the team working on projects funded by the 2024 bond.

The second project will be a covered shelter between Polar Passage and Growler’s Pizza. A $7.5 million building permit is under review for the project. The approximately 10,000-square-foot space will be large enough to accommodate a band, a dance floor, dining tables, a buffet setup, and bars. There will be lights, fans, radiant heaters and skylights.

鈥淚t will be an ideal place for visitors to get out of the elements, as well as for hosting private events such as company picnics and parties,鈥� Redmond-Jones stated.

Sustainable and natural construction materials will be used for the two structures, which will integrate solar panels for energy efficiency.

鈥淲e are thrilled with how beautifully the architecture blends with the surrounding Washington Park landscape, and we look forward to zoo guests being able to get out of the elements on both hot and rainy days,鈥� Redmond-Jones stated.

With the remaining unallocated bond dollars (approximately $5.5 million) for the first phase, the zoo will add a smaller covered shelter (plans call for a design in the same architectural style as the $10.5 million one) between the Growler’s eatery and Elephant Lands.

Construction is scheduled to start on the entry plaza and the larger covered shelter in January 2026 and finish in August 2026, according to Oregon Zoo spokesperson Hova Najarian. Construction of the smaller covered shelter is scheduled to start in February 2027, he added.

In addition, bond money will cover a second phase of projects. These will include updates of some of the zoo’s oldest animal areas, educational exhibits, guest facilities and infrastructure. Currently, the zoo team is planning for the first habitat projects: sea otters, harbor seals and Humboldt penguins, Redmond-Jones stated. A request for qualifications for an architect/engineer will be issued in the fall and a request for proposals for preconstruction services will be issued in the first quarter of 2026.