While the National Zoo has a long tradition and history in internationally renowned research and training programs, many of the facilities have become outdated and no longer meet the needs of the visitors, staff, animal exhibit and research collections, and research programs.
The Facilities Master Plan will guide the facilities renewal at the National Zoo. This renewal is part of the National Zoo's ten-year strategic plan to be the world's finest zoo by 2016. The facilities renewal will also help the National Zoo achieve its mission: to provide leadership in animal care, science, education, and sustainability.
There will be a Public Master Planning Meeting in the Zoo's Visitor Center auditorium. Everyone is invited to the meeting to learn about the options under consideration.
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The National Zoo is currently undergoing a comprehensive planning process to identify facilities and infrastructure needs, as well as implementation strategies at its two campuses: the National Zoo located in Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C., and the Conservation and Research Center located in Front Royal, Virginia.
While the National Zoo has a long tradition and history in internationally renowned research and training programs, many of the facilities have become outdated and no longer meet the needs of the visitors, staff, animal exhibit and research collections, and research programs.
The Facilities Master Plan will guide the facilities renewal at the National Zoo. This renewal is part of the National Zoo’s ten-year strategic plan to be the world’s finest zoo by 2016. The facilities renewal will also help the National Zoo achieve its mission: to provide leadership in animal care, science, education, and sustainability.
The above is from the Zoo's site at http://nationalzoo.si.edu/AboutUs/FuturePlans/masterplan.cfm They also have links on that page describing the various options. Some of the summary information about the plans:
Under these alternatives, there are elements that are common to all.
• “Elephant Trail” site planning and exhibit design is underway and is considered an existing condition for each alternative.
• Olmsted Walk remains the central circulation spine with improvements made to accessibility through individual project design.
• Exhibit areas continue to be renewed for multi-species exhibits; Collection Planning efforts determine future exhibits.
• Attendance increases are expected to exceed the peak attendance levels of the year 2001.
• Visitor services and education spaces are revitalized.
• Transit incentives are offered to promote alternative transportation and to accommodate an increase in visitation.
• Partnerships for satellite parking are maintained and increased.
• Staff parking policies are implemented.
• North Road and Blue Road become the service backbone of the park; Hawthorne Street is used for emergency access.
• A new hay storage facility is located behind the Mane Restaurant, near the Kids’ Farm.
Summary of Major Differences
The two Action Alternatives being considered for the National Zoo have several key differences.
• Alternative A consolidates the visitor entry with three primary entry portals, including a major, new visitor hub at the mid-point of the park. A large parking resource would allow visitors arriving by car and bus to enter at the mid-point, gain orientation to the park, and navigate based on this central location. An aerial tram would connect the mid-point entry to the upper and lower ends of the park, mitigating the steep topography and providing a unique vantage point above the National Zoo.
• Alternative B consolidates entry at the upper and lower ends of the park, connecting the two entries and mitigating the park’s hill with a ground-based tram along North Road. A new administrative, support, and operations hub would be located on the General Services Building/Lot C site, along with staff parking.
• In Alternative A, a new visitor hub at the mid-point entry would replace the Great Ape House. A new plaza for informal gathering and events would be framed by the architecture of the Small Mammal House and the Reptile Discovery Center buildings.
• In Alternative B, the Great Ape House would be recycled for visitor services and education uses. A small open space behind the building would be used for informal gathering and events.
• Under Alternative A, surface parking would be reclaimed (Lots B and D) for new exhibit space and interpretation related to conservation. In Alternative B, Lot D remains a parking resource but surface Lot A and Bus Lot are reclaimed for exhibit area.
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