Lincoln Park Zoo Searle Visitor Center

The 3.6 million visitors who come annually to Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo are now greeted by the new Searle Visitor Center. Bulley & Andrews was engaged by the Chicago Zoological Society to construct the new visitor center at the Zoo’s east gate entrance. The new building replaces the smaller Gateway Pavilion.

The new, 9,500 sq. ft. facility features two new buildings containing guest and member services, an information kiosk, first aid, stroller rentals, interactive displays, a shaded rest area, member lounge, new restrooms and administrative offices. The building spans the east gate with an overhead canopy offering shade and a place for visitors to meet and rest. The canopy was designed to mirror a pattern of layered branches, which filters light as if peering through the branches of a tree.

The LEED Silver designed building incorporates recycled stone from the old visitor center and 100% of the construction waste was recycled.