Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Toronto Zoo has started construction on a new Community Conservation Centre being built by PCL Constructors.
“We are building new front gates for the Toronto Zoo, as well as two new buildings totalling about 30,000 square feet,” said Project Manager Ben Knoop “One of the buildings has four classrooms and four labs and the other building has retail, otter habitat, otter holding area, Blanding’s turtle head-starting facility. . . and a rooftop terrace.”
The project was designed by Zeidler Architecture and is expected to be under construction for about two years.
Featuring an engaging river otter habitat, the Toronto Zoo Community Conservation Centre (TZC3) aims to bring a new, exciting educational arrival experience to Zoo guests and will also be a space accessible to the local community, where people can gather and connect with nature and each other.
“As the Toronto Zoo celebrates 50 years as a local landmark, PCL is excited to participate in its evolution and kick off construction of the new Conservation Centre,” says Myke Badry, vice president and district manager of PCL Constructors Canada Inc. (Toronto). “We are honored to join the Zoo as Guardians of Wild alongside our expert team of consultants and trade partners and are committed to creating a positive experience for the animals and guests with safety at top of mind.”
As the new home to the endangered turtle conservation breeding centre, TZC3 represents an exciting next phase for conservation science at your Toronto Zoo. This space will be a prominent and visually stunning statement of your Zoo’s commitment to the community, with multiple labs and classrooms used by students from U of T Scarborough as well as Toronto Zoo camps, Zoo School and education programs.
“The Toronto Zoo Community Conservation Centre is an incredible addition for our organization, building on our existing Wildlife Health Centre and reproductive science research with meaningful Canadian species conservation efforts and student/community engagement facilities” said Dolf DeJong, CEO, Toronto Zoo. “This centre also supports our commitment to “two eyed” seeing, bridging conventional conservation science efforts with traditional knowledge.”
It’s the first Zoo in Canada to establish a collaboration with a university locating a physical campus onsite. When the classrooms are not being used, they will serve as outreach spaces that our broader community can enjoy for meetings, gatherings, events, townhalls and programs.
“This new facility will offer students a level of experiential learning that can only be gained by being immersed within a working conservation-based organization, our experienced researchers and practitioners,” said Dr. Gabriela Mastromonaco, Toronto Zoo’s Senior Director Wildlife Science. “It is a very different perspective on learning outcomes and will really set the students up for their careers and for success. This space is another step in our commitment, along with the University of Toronto Scarborough, to make science more accessible.”