• Posted: March 27, 2019
• Construction Technology

Home to more than 1,100 mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, over three million people flock to Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo each year. A staple of the public education system’s field trip circuit, the approximately 200 different species of animals ignite the minds and imagination of visitors, young and old.

The zoo is open year-round, but attendance always picks up once the weather begins to thaw. This year, the zoo’s main attraction won’t be a rare, new animal, but instead a new $9.3 million visitor’s center.

Designed by Ross Barney Architects and built by Bulley & Andrews, the Searle Visitor Center officially opened in mid-November 2018. According to the zoo, the center is “the latest project to open under the Pride of Chicago capital campaign” and includes guest services, a dedicated member center generously supported by the Women’s Board of Lincoln Park Zoo, curated gardens, and accessible family restrooms.

“The new visitor center provides a dynamic greeting to visitors at the east entrance with its distinctive design inspired by nature,” said Jay Hunger, Senior Project Manager of Bulley & Andrews. “It was professionally and personally gratifying to work on such a landmark project.”

To ensure the project met the zoo’s expectations and was true to the design intent, the project team created several mock-ups on site, including the stone veneer, which was recycled stone from the old visitor center building and the new cantilever gate with custom laser-cut steel panels. The steel panels match those used in the center’s innovative shade canopy with a design that resembles tree branches.

Building information modeling (BIM) played a key role in keeping all team members on the same page. StructionSite, a photo documentation and sharing platform, allowed the project team to view construction remotely at any time using 360-degree view cameras, enabling them to review conditions and solve problems expeditiously.

“It was imperative that everyone worked collaboratively to ensure the project’s success,” said Hunger. “We worked in tandem to identify problems and find the best solutions.”

To complete such an expansive project, Bulley & Andrews worked with a number of subcontractors, including Powering Chicago’s Moran Electrical Contracting.

“I’ve never been a part of such a high-profile project, so it was pretty cool to play a role in something hundreds of thousands of people will experience each year,” said Jason Watson, Project Manager for Moran Electrical Contracting. “Even when you’re driving through the area, you can see it and it stands out more so than other buildings.”

Watson and his team were responsible for all the building’s power and mechanical needs. From outlets and voice data to fire alarms and security, Moran Electrical Contracting worked for roughly nine months to complete the new facility.

“A challenge we faced while working on this project was trying to schedule an electrical shutdown so we could install a new breaker to feed the new building,” Watson explained. “Typically, a shutdown is scheduled during off hours to minimize disruption to operations. The zoo, however, was different. We initially tried to schedule the shutdown at 6:00 pm during the week but were advised that the bird house had egg incubators and an after-hours shutdown would not work. The shutdown was rescheduled for 5:00 am during the week because many animal care and facilities staff are there early in the morning. It was different that our shutdown was ultimately scheduled for a time when there were so many zoo employees starting their day.”

This meant that the team from Moran Electrical had to work around the zoo’s employees in the morning and be mindful of their schedules. Typically, an electrical shutdown on site happens after working hours so the employees are not negatively impacted by the loss of power, but because there are animals being cared for throughout the early morning and late hours, Moran’s team had to take the necessary steps to ensure everything continued at the zoo as planned.

Throughout the project, there were between two and four electricians on site ensuring the project ran smoothly and according to schedule. Watson said his team enjoyed working with Bulley & Andrews and all the other contractors, but if you ask him and the other electricians at Moran Electrical Contracting what their favorite part was, they’d say the uniqueness of working alongside the zoo’s residents.

“Every morning you can hear the roar of the lions,” said Jim Moran, Vice President of Moran Electrical Contracting. “It’s a little alarming the first time you hear it, though.”

“I know myself and all of the other electricians that worked on this project enjoyed working inside the powerhouse,” said Matt O’Connell, Field Operation for Moran. “Seeing all of the old transformers and gear was pretty interesting.”

It was a unique project for both teams at Bulley & Andrews and Moran Electrical and each can take pride knowing that the building will stand tall and greet incoming students and visitors for years to come.