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News Release from: EC Harris | Subject: EC Harris expertise helps Chester Zoo
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 23 February 2006
EC Harris expertise helps Chester Zoo
International consultancy helps to create Europe's largest enclosure for endangered apes.
Consultant EC Harris is using its expertise to help Chester Zoo create a £3m home from home for its endangered Bornean and Sumatran Orang-utans The state-of-the-art enclosure - the most expensive project in the history of the zoo and called The Realm of the Red Ape - will be the largest Orang-utan exhibit in the whole of Europe
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 21 Jan 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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The project has been designed in house by Chester Zoo Estates division, and is managed by ARJ Associates, Consulting Engineers.
George Tyson, Partner and Property Sector Leader at the Liverpool office of EC Harris, is leading the team providing quantity surveying expertise and services for Chester Zoo.
He said: "This is obviously a pretty unusual project for us to be involved with but the fact that we can undertake it proves the flexibility and sector-leading expertise offered by EC Harris to its clients.
"We want to play our part in helping the Orang-utans to think that they're in their native Borneo and Sumatra by re-creating the natural conditions in which they can thrive and enjoy life." The first phase of the project will create a two-storey building linked to the current Orang-utan enclosure and consist of three large indoor enclosures.
Joined to these will be two further large outdoor enclosures covered with mesh roofing supported by tree-like structures to act as climbing frames for the apes.
There will also be two large outdoor enclosures viewed from a first-floor public gallery and other viewing points and boasting a waterfall, plants and other climbing structures.
The entire exhibit will replicate a natural rainforest environment for the endangered species with high temperatures and humidity and filled with tropical vegetation and other animals such as amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
Ultimately, Chester Zoo will use the enlarged facilities to accommodate a larger number of the apes as part of a European Breeding Programme.
The scheme started in December and will take about a year to complete.
During its construction the Orang-utans will remain in their current home and visitors will be able to see them on their island.
The project has been designed by Chester Zoo Estates Division to accommodate further development of the site at an as yet unspecified date - this would involve demolition of the existing house and extension of the new house.
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