Visits to the doctor will soon be much more pleasant for mammals, fish, birds and reptiles at the Oregon Zoo. Construction is expected to start later this month on a new Veterinary Medical Center –– the first new facility funded by the voter-approved 2008 zoo bond. The center is expected to be completed by summer of 2011.
The zoo's old vet facilities, built in 1966, have been remodeled and retrofitted several times but cannot accommodate the medical equipment, surfaces and temperature controls available today for treating the many species under the care of the zoo's veterinary staff. As doctors conduct checkups and treat ailments of snakes, tigers, bears and frogs, they need to adjust the conditions to suit the animal. Features of the new building include heated and rubberized floors, holding areas designed specifically to accommodate different species, and adjustable air and water temperatures.
The new medical center will have more than 15,000 square feet dedicated to advanced veterinary treatment. The facility's efficient floor plan will allow staff to easily coordinate medical treatments, surgeries and other procedures. It combines a veterinary clinic and quarantine area where new animals arriving at the zoo get health checks and are observed for a month or so prior to entering their long-term zoo homes. Through closed-circuit monitors and large viewing windows, students will be able to learn about science and conservation by watching surgery firsthand. This same technology will record surgeries and other procedures for educational purposes and provide the means for around-the-clock remote observation of animals in treatment.
While contributing to the health of zoo animals, the facility also is sensitive to the environment. The project is expected to receive LEED silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Rain will be harvested from the roof and stored in a 30,000-gallon tank to be used for washing down animal areas and flushing toilets. Fresh water will be solar-heated and there will be an energy-saving electrical system. Much of the material used in the building's construction will come from recycled sources and 90 percent of construction waste will be recycled.
Trees that surround the new facility will remain; however, some trees must be removed from the building site. Skanska USA Building Inc. of Beaverton, the project's general contractor, is working with the Portland Water Bureau's natural resources staff to reuse these trees in stream-habitat restoration projects.
The zoo's old quarantine facility will be demolished to make room for the new medical center. Demo work, tree removal and site excavation are expected to start Aug. 26. Zoo visitors should be aware that trucks will be hauling soil, building materials and logs from the site for about two weeks. There will be some noise and dust. For the safety of visitors and animals, the Family Farm exhibit will be closed for a few hours at a time during this period.
The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission of inspiring the community to create a better future for wildlife.