 |
The Lion House may no longer house big cats, but the building’s original
lion details, including the entry pediment, were retained and restored. All photos: © David Sundberg/Esto
|
Astor Court sits at the heart of the 265-acre Bronx Zoo, and its six Beaux Arts buildings were constructed at the turn of the 20th century to house exotic animals from around the world. When the Lion House was built in 1903, the brick and limestone facility was considered state-of-the-art, but as standards of animal care advanced, the lions were moved into a more natural setting, and the Lion House was shuttered in 1985.
Restoring the Astor Court buildings was a key fixture of the zoo's 2003 master plan. The Wildlife Conservation Society, which operates from the Bronx Zoo, was tasked with bringing new life to the Lion House. For the $60 million renovation, the group focused on the wildlife of Madagascar, the huge island in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The exhibit includes Nile crocodiles, lemurs, and hissing cockroaches, but no lions, which aren't native to Madagascar.
The Building Team of FXFOWLE Architects, Hill International (CM), and MAA Angelides (GC) was tasked with restoring the building and adding 4,800 sf of new exhibit space, 6,700 sf of new plant and animal support space, a 3,500-sf multipurpose event space, and 6,700 sf of mechanical space, all within the building's existing footprint.
They did so by excavating the cellar by four feet, expanding into space beneath the terrace, and removing outdated features (such as the original 1903 lion cages). The existing foundation was stabilized and expanded, steel beams shored up the aged structure, and a new roof with high-performance skylights was installed. The lower level of the renovated 43,200-sf structure contains primarily service and support spaces, while public spaces and exhibits occupy the main level.
The building's mechanical systems and supports were designed to disappear within the building so as not to obstruct historic details or the exhibits. Structural columns and ductwork in exhibit areas are disguised as trees. A raised floor displacement system that requires no duct work delivers heating and cooling. Sprinklers are integrated into acoustic panels. A geothermal system eliminates the need for an obtrusive cooling tower and increases efficiency, helping the project earn LEED Gold.
These items particularly impressed the engineers on the judging panel. “From an engineering standpoint, they spent money on things you can't see—the geothermal loop, for example—that significantly add to the project,” said David Callan, PE, SVP at Environmental Systems Design, Chicago. — Jay W. Schneider, Senior Editor
Related Stories
| Sep 25, 2014
Jean Nouvel unveils plans for National Art Museum of China
Of the design, Nouvel describes it as inspired by the simplicity of “a single brush stroke.”
| Sep 24, 2014
Architecture billings see continued strength, led by institutional sector
On the heels of recording its strongest pace of growth since 2007, there continues to be an increasing level of demand for design services signaled in the latest Architecture Billings Index.
| Sep 24, 2014
Frank Gehry's first building in Latin America will host grand opening on Oct. 2
Gehry's design for the Biomuseo, or Museum of Biodiversity, draws inspiration from the site's natural and cultural surroundings, including local Panamaian tin roofs.
| Sep 23, 2014
Third phase of New York’s High Line redevelopment opens
The $35 million Phase 3, known as High Line at the Rail Yards, broke ground September 20, 2012, and officially opened to the public on September 21.
| Sep 23, 2014
Cloud-shaped skyscraper complex wins Shenzhen Bay Super City design competition
Forget the cubist, clinical, glass and concrete jungle of today's financial districts. Shenzhen's new plan features a complex of cloud-shaped skyscrapers connected to one another with sloping bridges.
| Sep 22, 2014
4 keys to effective post-occupancy evaluations
Perkins+Will's Janice Barnes covers the four steps that designers should take to create POEs that provide design direction and measure design effectiveness.
| Sep 22, 2014
Sound selections: 12 great choices for ceilings and acoustical walls
From metal mesh panels to concealed-suspension ceilings, here's our roundup of the latest acoustical ceiling and wall products.
| Sep 18, 2014
Final designs unveiled for DC's first elevated park
OMA, Höweler + Yoon, NEXT Architects, and Cooper, Robertson & Partners have just released their preliminary design proposals for what will be known as the 11th Street Bridge Park.
| Sep 16, 2014
Competition asks architects, designers to reimagine the future of national parks
National Parks Now asks entrants to propose all types of interventions for parks, including interactive installations, site-specific education and leisure opportunities, outreach and engagement campaigns, and self-led tours.
| Sep 11, 2014
5 competing designs unveiled for Presidio Parklands in San Francisco
To turn the underdeveloped area by Chrissy Field into new public space, San Francisco's Presidio Trust unveiled the five designs by five teams they invited earlier this year.
