The project to create Big Cat Falls from the Philadelphia Zoo’s existing Carnivore House transformed a static and dated “cat in a box” exhibit into an educational, entertaining experience that more closely resembles viewing big cats in the wild.
New pathways lead zoo visitors through naturally-landscaped outdoor habitats for Amur tigers and leopards, lions, jaguars, cougars, and snow leopards in rotational habitats conducive to immersive, up-close animal encounters for visitors. The old lion house was adapted for multi-media presentations and back-of-house tours.
Exhibit features include:
- Waterfalls, pools, and streams
- Authentic plantings
- A simulated research station for aspiring zoologists
- Glazed pavilions that allow visitors to get close to the animals
- Overhead “shift enclosures” that allow the big cats to share spaces periodically
The overpasses in Big Cat Falls helped inspire Zoo360, a series of overhead trails introduced in 2011 that allow a wide variety of animals to walk above guests and explore other parts of the zoo.
As the associate architect on EHDD’s team, KMA was responsible for construction administration and supplemental design.
