Pittsburgh Zoo lays out long-term makeover plan

Laura Esposito and Ciara McEneany / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium is about to get a makeover.

Covering 77 acres in Highland Park, the zoo will undergo construction focusing mainly on the "wellbeing of the animals and the development of habitats and experiences," zoo spokesperson Matt Phillips wrote in a news release Thursday evening.

Modifications could be visible as early as this winter, the release said, but the project is expected to take more than 20 years to complete.

The first phase, which will take place over the next five to seven years, includes a new front entrance and accessible path, new habitats and upgrades to its education facility, among others.

A new “state-of-the-art” giraffe barn will be constructed to have a dayroom, offer year-round public viewings and feedings, and will have additional hay storage, the release said. It will also provide the zoo with enough room for possible new giraffes and more outdoor space. 

For one of the zoo’s most popular animals, the Bornean orangutan will be getting a multi-level outdoor habitat, the release said. Additionally, the zoo will be creating a “new Island centerpiece” at the zoo’s highest point as a habitat for orangutans and siamangs, with waterfalls and pools below.

Mr. Phillips said that the orangutans currently have better opportunities for overall well-being at other facilities, including its female orangutan Ember who was recently moved to the Indianapolis Zoo and its male orangutan, Jiwa, who will be rehomed based on recommendations from the American Zoological Association’s Species Survival Program. Jiwa is still at the zoo.

By building a new habitat, it will allow the zoo to bring the orangutans back and “grant these incredible endangered animals the best care possible,” Mr. Phillips said. 

“Innovative animal habitats will allow for ever-changing guest viewing opportunities and immersive environments that showcase the natural behaviors of our animals,” said CEO Jeremy Goodman in a statement.

The Conservation Education complex will also be seeing major upgrades, receiving additional classrooms, larger housing for the program’s “ambassador animals,” more office space and a full-time licensed preschool, officials said in the release.

Zoo officials said that the upgrades are driven by its mission of educating visitors about conserving nature during a time of climate change and biodiversity loss.

“This plan is not just about physical transformation but also about solidifying our role as a leader in global wildlife conservation and bolstering the Zoo’s renowned stature,” said Dr. Goodman in a statement.

In September, the zoo regained accreditation from the 100-year-old Association of Zoos & Aquariums more than nine years after losing the certification.

The Pittsburgh Zoo parted ways with AZA in 2015 after a disagreement about a then-new AZA safety policy calling for limiting unprotected contact between elephants and handlers.

Motivated in part by the push to regain AZA accreditation, the zoo in 2021 hired Dr. Goodman, who has led three other zoos in his career, as CEO and president.

“The master plan blends our rich history with cutting-edge technology and innovation,” said Dr. Goodman in a statement. “Our footprint will be revitalized and energized with dynamic habitats and updated facilities, with a major concentration on animal well being.”