Elmwood Park Zoo – Welcome Center and Animal Hospital

The new Elmwood Park Zoo animal hospital and welcome center are part of a multi-phase renovation and expansion of the zoo’s 73-acre master campus. The project includes extensive site work and the construction of a new animal hospital, a welcome center with exhibit space, a gift shop, and administrative offices. The animal hospital allows veterinarians and technicians to perform surgeries, administer treatments, X-rays, CT scans, and house animals for mating or quarantine scenarios. The full-scale hospital allows the zoo to take care of its own animals as well as partner with local zoos and animal habitats, and is one of 13 in the United States and the only current zoo where patrons can view treatments in progress from the second-level welcome center. The welcome center includes a coffee shop, interactive exhibits, and a large gift shop. The third level incorporates executive and staff offices with multiple board rooms and an outdoor terrace to accommodate zoo events. Site improvements include a lookout with a pedestrian bridge that overlooks the entry plaza, a 26-foot-diameter fountain with multiple sculptures, an exterior animal exhibit, extensive stormwater management initiatives, eight retaining walls, and a comprehensive paving and landscaping scope.