Zoological Association of America
Large/Macro Facility

Animal Exhibit Award of Excellence

The Ohio Center for Wildlife conservation was developed to support the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s conservation efforts to protect species from Ohio’s rivers, creeks, streams, marshes, and forests. Among the many native Ohio species in need, the center would highlight eastern hellbenders, plains garter snakes, freshwater mussels, and American burying beetles. The zoo asked for a facility that would facilitate the zoo’s efforts to raise individuals for release and showcase them to the public to bring awareness to the critical needs of these endangered creatures.

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The challenge was to renovate an existing wood construction building that would include a room for hellbender and garter snake breeding and rearing, space for the life support systems (LSS), a food preparation room, and office space for documentation and tracking.

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The public viewing and education center was kept separate from the clean room environment required for animal care. Environmental graphics tell the story of each of the featured animals and are broken down throughout the space into animal zones. Large viewing windows into the breeding and rearing animal rooms provide a back of house view into what the staff does. Live animals are on display for visitors to enjoy and learn what the zoo does and what they can do to conserve these animals.