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Y. B. Lash, Ph.D.
Nevin
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Project Brief
Concept Plan: Polar Bear Exhibit
Roger Williams Park Zoo, Providence, Rhode Island
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INTRODUCTION
Ursa International was awarded the design of Roger Williams Park
Zoo’s new Polar Bear and surrounding exhibits project in early
2005. This on-gong project is seen as the beginning segment to
the zoo’s North American collection and thus includes other
biomes and habitats beyond Polar Bear tundra, but it is Polar Bear that
take center stage in their 20,000 s.f. habitat.
The exhibit attempts to present the Polar Bears in a tundra setting,
where the viewers vista extends beyond the confines of the exhibit and
across the nearby lake, giving an realistic impression of the vastness
of the Arctic realm. There are several other, close-up
opportunities as well, where the visitor can stand next to the Bears
nose to nose on dry ground, and in the Interpretive Building,
completely submerged in the 90,000 gal. pool.
The Exhibit theme involves our notion of “home”; the
place where we live, and who we share our home with, the other animals
that live in North America . There are many types of homes, both
for humans and for animals and they are depicted along the 800 l.f.
trail, including log cabins, igloos, eagle nests, prairie dog tunnels
and Ice caves. The exhibit will also interpret the conservation
success stories due in part to scientific research conducted at Zoos
and wildlife partners, bringing the Bison, Bald Eagle and Red Wolf back
from the brink of extinction. The Polar Bear is presented as one
species that is currently not threatened, yet due to pressures on their
environment we are beginning to be concerned for their well-being, and
there are things we can do today to help prevent the Polar Bears
decline.
Companion species in the exhibit include Bald Eagle, Snowy Owl, Arctic
Fox, Red Wolf, Prairie Dog, Bison, Pronghorn, and Harbor Seal.
New holding buildings are included for each species. The Polar
Bear holding includes four standard dens plus a maternity suite as well
as two exterior off-exhibit yards for long term management of this
species at the zoo.
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Phase I Projects
Bear and Wolf Exhibit
The interior of the
Interpretive building is a busy place, with various vantage points to
view the polar bears; either above water in the uplands portion of the
exhibit, or diving below water in the 90,000 gallon
View from the Eagle Overlook
The exhibit can be
seen from the old Polar Bear grotto, from the highest point on the site
overlooking the beautiful lake. In wintertime, the view will
extend beyond the exhibit across the lake, creating a true tundra
experience. From this point, Presentation Rock is seen on the
left, where interpreters can do public presentations. On the
right, the glacial formation is actually the holding building and
outdoor yard, where the male polar bear can be seen when on his
climbing platform.
Credits
- Roger William Park Zoo Polar Bear and Surrounding Exhibits were designed by Ursa
International
- in collaboration with
EDAW, Atlanta
Biscayne Aquaculture
and the staff at
Roger Williams Park Zoo
City of Providence Parks Department
and Yoder Tidwell Architects
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Project Data
Design began: March
2005
target budget: $15+ million
client:
Roger Williams Park Zoo Society
client contact:
Ron Patalano
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