The Project
Inspired by the adjacent Genesee River Valley and the conservation efforts of Seneca Park Zoo, the new Entry and Tropics Pavilion create a valley through which visitors will engage with tropical ecosystems in Africa and Asia, highlighting unique connections between the region and the world. The addition strengthens the connection between the zoo, the visitor, the park, Monroe County, and Western New York while extending the Zoo’s conservation and education mission to a new generation of guests. Indoor and outdoor rainforest habitats initiate the visitor experience and provide new infrastructure for ticketing, visitor amenities, education, events and retail. Composed of sustainable materials, native plantings, universal design, sensitive scale and siting, the project aims at integrating with the much-loved landscape of Seneca Park and the wider Monroe County Parks system designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.