SEATTLE - Woodland Park Zoo today announced its decision on the construction method for the new parking garage planned to begin construction in 2007. The zoo selected the traditional “design-bid-build” process over an alternative construction method, “design-build.” Scheduled for completion in 2008, the parking garage is an early element of the zoo’s 20-year Long-Range Physical Development Plan (LRPDP), which was adopted unanimously by the Seattle City Council in fall 2004.

Design-bid-build is a method in which a designer is employed separately to design the facility. Once the design is complete, contractors are then invited to submit bids to construct the facility. Design-build is a project contracting method in which a facility is designed and constructed by a single integrated team of designers, engineers and constructors. After conducting two public hearings, including extensive testimony from zoo neighbors, the zoo decided on the design-bid-build method.

With this decision, Woodland Park Zoo will move into the selection phase for a parking garage design firm. Once the design firm is contracted, a schedule of opportunities for public input into the garage design will be established.

“ We’re excited to be moving forward on this project,” remarked Woodland Park Zoo Deputy Director Bruce Bohmke. “The garage will make visiting the zoo easier for our family-oriented audience, and allow them to park on grounds during crowded days at the zoo, rather than in the surrounding neighborhoods.”

“ Public testimony made it clear that our neighbors preferred ‘design-bid-build’ to ‘design-build’ as the best way to integrate community input into garage design,” added Bohmke.

The new garage will be located on the west side of Woodland Park Zoo and will be a multi-story facility, providing approximately 700 additional parking stalls for zoo visitors. The design-bid-build construction method will not alter the zoo’s commitment to build the garage within the original $16.2 million budget.

The LRPDP amends the zoo’s original Long-Range Plan, conceived nearly 30 years ago. The plan provides overall guidance for the physical development of the zoo. The key objectives of the LRPDP are to continue the 1976 plan’s approach to naturalistic exhibitry and excellent animal care, but update the plan to:

• Improve the animal health, conservation and maintenance facilities and provide new exhibits;
• Provide the community with facilities for social gathering, recreation, and interactive learning for visitors of all ages, with a focus on programs that inspire conservation;
• Enhance the zoo’s financial stability and stewardship by creating facilities and programs that yield new, year-round revenue streams;
• Improve visitors’ experience, particularly for families with young children and during off-peak times in late fall, winter and spring;
• Reduce the neighborhood traffic impact by providing sufficient on-site parking to accommodate current and projected zoo attendance on all but a few days each year, and;
• Provide on-site staff work space that enhances efficiency, productivity and collaboration.

Zoomazium, another early project identified in the zoo’s LRPDP as the Family Science Learning Center, is currently under construction.

Accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, award-winning Woodland Park Zoo is famed for pioneering naturalistic exhibits and setting a standard for zoos all over the world. With conservation, education and excellent animal care at the core of the zoo’s mission, the zoo is helping to save endangered species in Washington state and around the world including tree kangaroos, snow leopards, red-crowned cranes, African wild dogs, western pond turtles and Oregon silverspot butterflies. By inspiring visitors and others to care and act, Woodland Park Zoo is making a difference in our planet’s future.