Seattle — Northwest Construction, a trade magazine published by The McGraw-Hill Companies, has honored Woodland Park Zoo’s new Jaguar Cove exhibit with an Award of Excellence for best 2003 public project. Jaguar Cove tied for first place with University of Washington Medical Center Surgery Pavilion. Woodland Park Zoo is a top award-winning zoo and internationally renowned for its cutting-edge exhibits and quality animal care.

The designer of the $4.3 million exhibit was The Portico Group (Seattle) and the general contractor, Synergy Construction Inc. (Woodinville, Wash.). The 3,850-square-foot exhibit, which opened this summer, quadruples the size of the jaguar’s former exhibit, making it one of the largest and most naturalistic exhibits dedicated to jaguars in any zoo.

“Jaguar Cove may be one of the most complex exhibits for a jaguar you’ll find in any zoo,” noted the zoo’s project manager for the exhibit, Linda J. Sullivan. “Thanks to the caliber of our design, construction and zoo team for this exhibit,” added Sullivan, “visitors have really enjoyed observing how this muscular cat behaves in a natural environment.”

A 28-foot-high kapok (KAY-pahk) stump serves as the dramatic entry to Jaguar Cove and the 2.5-acre Tropical Rain Forest. Zoo-goers are transported to the lush, tropical rain forests of Central and South America, the natural habitat of jaguars, where more than 1,500 plants are displayed inside and outside the jaguar enclosure.

More than 300 animal species from around the world and a thousand plant species are displayed in the 92-acre Woodland Park Zoo. The 104-year-old conservation and education institution opens 365 days of the year. For more information, call 206.684.4800.