As the country’s #1 Zoo, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium provides outstanding visitor experiences and animal care. With an aging facility, the OHDZA partnered with Holland Basham Architects to design a new state-of-the-art animal hospital to support their growing veterinary needs.
The 32,000 square-foot hospital’s exterior footprint design is a nod to the diverse species found throughout the zoo. Inside, the design remains functional for both the animals being cared for and the veterinary staff.
Because of the diverse population OHDZA cares for, it was important to design an animal hospital that could accommodate both the smallest and largest species, and everything in between.
Project Summary
Services Provided
- Visioning
- Conceptual Design
- Architectural
- Interior Design
- FF&E Coordination
- Environmental Graphics
- Construction Documents
- Construction Administration
Characteristics
- 32,000 s.f. facility
- Exterior footprint design is a nod to the diverse population the OHDZA cares for and gives the hospital an identity to stand out among the other buildings on campus
- Situated in a central location on campus accessible from all major zoo exhibits and easy access to public roads
- Provides office space, conference rooms, and a library with resource materials for veterinary staff
- Observation room that overlooks two procedure rooms, sterile surgery, and CT Imaging
- Medical equipment upgrades include varying sizes of X-ray equipment to accommodate different sizes of animals, endoscopy equipment, dedicated quarantine wards, CT imaging for on-site scans
- Large garage doors allow access for all vehicle sizes need to carry animals in and out of the facility
- Different sizes and types of animal holding rooms to accommodate many species from hoofstock, primate, carnivore, herps, avian, and aquatic
- Diet Prep Kitchen, positioned in the center of all the animal holding spaces to increase efficiency and use of space
- The hospital also houses a pharmacy with its own exterior vestibule and drive-up window for easy access
- Supports partnerships with local college programs to observe and study
