From the Open Ocean to Nearshore Waters and Rocky Shores, Brookfield Zoo’s The Living Coast tells the story of the interconnections in a biologically- rich environment.
ThemeWorks provided complete fabrication for this award-winning exhibit that is based upon the biologically rich coasts of Chile and Peru. ThemeWorks fabricated and installed 18,000 square feet (1,672 square meters) of highly durable and highly detailed artificial rockwork complete with encrusting fauna. The exhibit includes large aquariums, a central aviary with soaring cliffs, a vampire bat exhibit, invertebrate jewel tanks, and the popular Wave Crash. Careful planning and consultation with biologists and zoo staff ensured the creation of a safe and viable marine habitat for the animals that now inhabit the exhibit.
“In my 25 year career in exhibit design and construction, working with ThemeWorks on the Living Coast exhibit at Brookfield Zoo was my most rewarding and satisfying experience. Their talent, creativity, sense of design, and resourcefulness produced exhibits of great quality and exquisite detail. I am still immensely proud of the environment and experience we produced together!” -Rich Soderquist
PROJECT DETAILS
Project: The Living Coast
Designer: Mr. Mark Gabriel, Mark E. Gabriel Associates
Client: Chicago Zoological Society
Size: 18,000 square feet (1,672 m²) of rockwork in an approximately 22,000 square foot building
Photography: Don DuBroff
Scope of Work: ThemeWorks provided complete fabrication for this award-winning exhibit that is based upon the biologically rich coasts of Chili and Peru. Using Futura-Rock©, a high-tech urethane plastic rockwork system, ThemeWorks fabricated 18,000 square feet (1,672 m²) of highly durable, highly detailed artificial rockwork, along with artificial aquatic animals and exhibit casework. The exhibit included large aquariums, a central aviary with soaring cliffs, a vampire bat exhibit, invertebrate jewel tanks, and the popular Wave Crash. To ensure biological accuracy, ThemeWorks worked closely with the Chicago Zoological Society and Zoo staff, who contributed art direction, select animal models, murals, and graphics.