i n t ro d u c t i o n
Make the world a better place.
ELM Environments is an agile, integrated multi-disciplinary environmental design studio of experienced planners, architects, landscape architects, designers and staff committed to helping zoological, aquaria and conservation-based institutions make the world a better place. We are unique in that we apply high-performance planning and responsible design to make our projects powerful, our clients more successful, and ultimately contribute to a better world. By practicing planning, architecture and landscape architecture essentially as a single discipline, ELM Environments is able to offer greater creativity; to better optimize the program, building, site and context; and to unlock the greatest possible value for our clients and their projects. Serving clients nationally and internationally, the firm is recognized for its commitment to conservation, sustainable practice, innovative design excellence, and technical proficiency. ELM Environment’s work encompasses projects in natural, learning, cultural, resort, commercial, recreational, visual, urban and living environments. We are a small studio by design but with a hands-on, client-centered adaptable approach proven to generate beautiful high-performing results. Our highly experienced team focuses on understanding and interpreting each client’s vision and objectives, applying innovative thinking and creativity, and providing exceptional personalized service. Our clients benefit from the firm’s agile structure – designed to create efficiency, foster creativity and ensure accountability.
overview
We are unique and so are our results.
We don’t believe in formulas for our plans and designs. Every project is unique and needs a unique team. We actively listen to everyone to understand all issues associated with a project and develop a unique, context-aware solution that maximizes every possibility for success.
We are high performance.
We are unique in that we apply a custom high-performance planning and design process that maximizes the potential of all project dimensions. The mission of a zoo, aquarium or wildlife rescue center is too important for mediocre results. We plan for success from the very beginning of a project and establish a framework for measuring the performance of a project in both the short-term and long-term.
We are more than zoo designers.
Unlike other zoological design firms, we actually work in the conservation world helping agencies, municipalities and nongovernmental organizations (NGO) develop and implement habitat conservation plans and ecosystem recovery projects. We not only interpret conservation issues, but we also practice cutting-edge conservation planning techniques as biophilic designers for diverse clients and projects.
We are easy to work with.
We believe that great results are born from a collegial, collaborative planning and design process. Your project deserves a productive environment that embraces open discussion, builds upon the intelligence and skills of your staff, and explores ideas from all stakeholders – all in an engaging manner. As a team, we strive to work with you, not against you to accomplish the common goals of the project in a way that benefits all parties involved.
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San Diego Zoo - Africa Rocks client San Diego Zoo
project description Africa Rocks will sculpt a 10 acre canyon into kopje woodlands, Ethiopian highlands, acacia woodlands, Madagascar and West African forest, and South African cape fynbos. These landscapes will illustrate the diverse geology of Africa and house a wide array of primates, large mammals, birds, and reptiles adapted to these unique environments.
year 2017 Opening (currently in design)
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Jacksonville Zoo - Wild Florida client Jacksonville Zoological Society
project description Wild Florida was designed to exhibit species native to the state of Florida as well as some that have been extirpated. Designed to allow zoo staff to construct the project in-house, the project features very common construction techniques, creative use of materials and an intelligent use of space and existing landscape. The Alligator exhibit in-particular has been well received. The Zoo has a large collection of mature alligators and the proximity and perspective is dramatic, especially during their feedings.
year 2001 * Steve Lovett was the Project LA for Powers & Merritt
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LANDSCAPE ENVIRO
INITIAL “PEEK A VIEW” AND ACTIVITY AREA INCLUDING SAND TABLE - RACKS DISCOVERY & THEMED PAVING EDUCATION/DOCENT NODE SEATING NODE W/ BENCHES VISIBLE TO ALL EDGES OF EXHIBIT
DENSE NEOTROPICAL LANDSCAPE TO PROMOTE SHADE AND NOISE BUFFERING FROM INTERSTATE OCELOT HABITAT #1
KID’S TREE CANOPY FOREST BLIND/RESEARCH OVERLOOK. CLIMBING FEATURE AND ARBOREAL VIEWING OPPORTUNITY.
OCELOT HOLDING #1 KEE
PER
OCELOT HABITAT #2
CHILDREN’S “DEN” WITH POP-UP BUBBLE
OCELOT HOLDING #2
SER VIC
CREATE CONSTRAINED THRESHOLD - SENSE OF COMPRESSION TO AMPLIFY LANDSCAPE IMMERSION
E TR
WATERFALL AND UNDERWATER VIEWING FOR POOL/STREAM
AIL
EXT’G AVIARY VESTIBULE
EXT’G AVIARY EXT’G TREE WITH LIMB INTEGRATED INTO HABITAT SPACE
Santa Ana Zoo - Ocelot Habitat & Breeding Center client Friends of the Santa Ana Zoo
project description ELM facilitated a workshop that utilized participatory planning & design techniques on a new ocelot habitat for the zoo. Within a two-day timeframe the team accomplished site selection, site analysis, programming, concept design and a draft opinion of probable costs for the new project. In addition, suggestions for master plan improvements were developed.
year 2011 (currently under construction)
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NEW PATH WITH VIEWING ORIENTED AWAY FROM INTERSTATE EDGE
Zoo Miami - Amazon and Beyond client Miami Dade Parks / Zoo Miami
project description The exhibit features myriad plant and animal species from the tropical forests of Central and South America telling the stories of diverse cultures in three bioregions: Meso-America, Amazonia, and the Mata Atlantic Forest. Combining immersive rainforest environments and exotic animals with a lively performance plaza and interactive fountain, Amazon and Beyond issues an entertaining call to conservation and inspires stewardship of the imperiled cultures and biodiversity of the American tropics.
year 2010 * Greg Murphy was Project Manager for Jones and Jones
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San Antonio Zoo - Africa Live! Phase I client San Antonio Zoological Society
project description Phase I of Africa Live! is the cornerstone of the largest development project in the zoo’s history. The drama and milieu of East Africa begins as visitors are introduced to the adaptations, migrations and behavior of species’ response to the abundance of water. Phase I features a multi-story structure containing 15 different exhibits including underwater viewing for hippos and Nile crocodiles, as well as a gift shop, food service, office space, and special event dining.
year 2007 12
* Chris Overdorf was Principal-in-Charge for Jones & Jones
San Antonio Zoo - Africa Live! Phase II client San Antonio Zoological Society
project description Phase II of Africa Live! continues to tell the story of how water affects the distribution of plants and animals. Designed as a series of ecotones, Phase II connects the animals and lush vegetation at the rivers edge to the thornforest at the edge of the dry plains. Phase II includes Angolan Colobus Monkeys, Okapi, African Hunting Dogs, Rock Hyrax, and various species of birds contained in the 2nd largest aviary in the world.
year 2009 * Chris Overdorf was Principal-in-Charge for Jones & Jones
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San Antonio Zoo - Tiny Tot Nature Spot client San Antonio Zoological Society
project description The Tiny Tot Nature Spot was the first early childhood education facility to be located at a zoo. The entire facility is intensely programmed with both exhibit spaces and experiential discovery places designed to activate the minds of 0-5 years olds. Featured spaces include a water play beach, campground, interactive sensory maze, interactive stream, and play lawn. Exhibited animal species include squirrel monkeys with sloths, coatimundi, flamingos, tortoise, prairie dogs, macaws, and various domestic animals.
year 2006 14
* Chris Overdorf was Project Landscape Architect for Jones & Jones
Bramble Park Zoo Master Plan client City of Watertown - Bramble Park Zoo
project description The new master plan represents a thorough ‘forward thinking’ analysis for the future 20-year development of the zoo, with the core focus to integrate an adjacent 4-acre tract of land seamlessly within the current 16-acre layout. Primary issues addressed were the state of current infrastructure, future infrastructure needs, animal collection, business and revenue generation needs, visitor amenities, and internal circulation.
year 2011 15
Oregon Zoo Strategic Master Plan client Oregon Metro / Schultz & Williams
project description In association with Schultz & Williams and David Towne, the project utilized an Integrated Strategic Planning Model that included Management, Business & Operational, Physical Site and Programming Plans. The resulting master plan gave explicit and special consideration to how recommendations and strategies will affect the welfare and experience of the Zoo’s animals and the Zoo’s ability to increase its role in educating the public about environmental and conservation concerns.
year 2007 16
* Chris Overdorf was Principal-in-Charge for Jones & Jones
Dublin Zoo - Kaziranga Forest Trail client Dublin Zoo
project description The new Asian Elephant habitat features two separate exhibit areas for a bull and cows while still appearing to be a contiguous landscape. The habitat includes two pools, dramatic rock formations, an elephant overlook (where the elephant is elevated on a large mound above the visitors) and a waterfall all surrounded by a dense forest of trees and bamboo. The entire habitat was designed for a breeding group and currently supports 5 elephants.
year 2007 * Chris Overdorf was Project Landscape Architect for Jones & Jones
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San Antonio Zoo - Master Plan Update client San Antonio Zoological Society
project description Following the development of a comprehensive master plan for the entire zoo campus, a new donor was identified that wanted to add a early childhood development center not identified in the master plan. While certain species and planned areas had to be either eliminated or adjusted in size, the master plan update integrated these new specialized exhibits without impacting the overall zoogeographic organization identified in the original master plan.
year 2006 18
* Chris Overdorf was Project Manager for Jones & Jones
Lake Superior Zoo - Bear Territory client Lake Superior Zoo
project description Bear Territory is centered around the habitats of four different bear species: Grizzly Bear, Brown Bear, Black Bear, and one species from South America, the Spectacled Bear. Visitors will seemingly walk “through” Bear Territory, experiencing seven different “flex habitats” connected by passages with hidden separation.
year 2013
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Toledo Zoo - Nature’s Neighborhood client Toledo Zoological Society
project description Nature’s Neighborhood is an intensive children’s learning/play experience allowing kids to engage in the natural world and encounter a variety of animal species. The Goat Yard features a climbing hill for the goats alongside a climbing wall for the kids. Kids can also help staff brush and take care of the Africa pygmy goats. Other species to experience include leaf-cutter ants, bees, spiders and birds.
year 2009 * Chris Overdorf was Principal-in-Charge for Jones & Jones. 20
Jacksonville Zoo - Giraffe Savanna client Jacksonville Zoological Society
project description Giraffe Savanna more than doubled the existing giraffe habitat from 3/4 acre to over 2 acres. An elevated boardwalk winds its way through a botanic garden highlighting plant species of the savanna and allows visitors to get “eye-to-eye� with the giraffes and feed them. The covered overlook also provides a fantastic viewpoint across all 2 acres and also functions as a mini special event area.
year 2006 * Chris Overdorf was the Project Manager for Jones & Jones * Chris Overdorf was the Project Manager for Jones & Jones
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Seoul Grand Park Zoo Master Plan client Seoul Grand Park Authority
project description The new master plan utilized seven site-specific bioclimatic life zones each designed to operate essentially as its own zoo. Habitats were designed to connect visitors to wild conservation activities and to support native indigenous culture. These connections were accomplished by strategically interweaving four ideals: realism, habitat immersion, cultural resonance, and behavioral enrichment. At the core of the master plan, the central theme of water connected all the bioclimatic zones together.
year 2007 22
* Chris Overdorf was Project LA for Jones & Jones
Jacksonville Zoo - Nature Play Park client Jacksonville Zoological Society
project description Nature Play Park is a 2-acre intensive children’s play environment. Included in the play park were three interactive animal areas each designed to promote mimic play between animals and kids. The otter exhibit featured a “crawl-thru” tunnel allowing kids to get close to the animals in their own way. Other species included goats and a spider monkey exhibit with climbing vines both inside and outside the exhibit to allow kids to “be” a monkey.
year 2007 * Chris Overdorf was the Project Manager for Jones & Jones
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Bergen County Zoo - Master Plan client Bergen County Zoological Park
project description The new master plan for the zoo capitalizes on its location within Van Sauk Park and best utilizes the interstitial areas within the park. Several zoogeographic zones were identified as best candidates for expansion, the entry complex and parking areas were better designed, and a new special events center was planned to allow after-hours programs to be implemented on zoo grounds.
year 2006
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* Chris Overdorf was Project LA for Jones & Jones
OWL/ RAVEN SEQUOIA PARK FOREST
S
C VI ER
E
RO
FOREST ECOLOGY LAB
AD
SERVICE ROAD
BLACK BEAR / COYOTE HOLDING
FISHER
COUGAR HOLDING
BLACK BEAR
PARKS CORP YARD
PLAY AREA
COMPOSTING
SEQUOIA PARK GATE
SHOP
COUGAR GIBBON
MUNTJAC / RED PANDA
STORAGE
COUGAR
FAMILY RESTROOM
PATAGONAIAN CAVY
COYOTE
STAFF OFFICES
EAGLE
SPIDER MONKEY
SQUIRREL / PHEASANT
ANIMAL CARE CENTER
NATIVE GARDEN ADMIN
CAPY / PECCARY / RHEA
SCREAMER
TROPICAL MIXED SPECIES BARNYARD
BOBCAT
MANED WOLF / ANTEATER
OTTER
TREE ROO
SPECIAL EVENTS LAWN
LEMUR BILL’S GARDEN
FLAMINGO ORIENTATION PLAZA HOLDING
HOLDING
AVIARY ENTRY PAVILION EVENTS PLAZA
HOLDING
DRY CREEK BED BADGER SWIFT FOX
H E D G PLAY AREA E
BLACK PRAIRIE DOG FOOTED FERRET
W STREET
PARKING
Sequoia Park Zoo Master Plan
sequoia park zoo master plan
client City of Eureka
ARCHITECTS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS PLANNERS
Scale: 1” = 80’-0”
w w w. j o n e s a n d j o n e s. com
project description The new master plan focuses on the species inhabiting the temperate rain forests along the “Ring of Fire”. While land locked the new master plan integrated un-used park land for zoo expansion. However, the exhibits were designed to eliminate the need for tree removal. The dense redwood forest was utilized to provide the most perfect natural setting for black bear, cougar and other species native to the Northern California coastal forests
year 2006 * Chris Overdorf was the Project Manager while at Jones & Jones
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CH RIS OV E R DO R F, A S L A C LAR B
P r i n c ipa l L a ndsca pe Arc hi tect / Planner / Habitat Designer Chris is a planner, geospatial analyst and nationally certified landscape architect who believes that zoos and aquaria are critical conservation centers in our communities. From 2000 to 2010, he worked for Jones & Jones (the last five years as a partner) on wildlife conservation and zoological planning and design projects ranging in scale from thousands of acres to four acres. His work has successfully emphasized innovative connections between people, animals and natural landscape systems through several large, complex multidisciplinary projects with zoological facilities, conservation-based NGOs, and state and municipal agencies.
S T E P H E N T. L O V E T T, A S L A , P L A , L E E D A P
P r i n c ipa l L a ndsca pe Arc hi tect / Planner
Steve Lovett is planner and landscape architect with experience in a broad range of public and private projects throughout the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean and South America including open space and landscape master planning; zoological design; destination resort development; and park and recreation design. Steve’s career has also included experience in the Pacific Northwest, the Desert Southwest, and the Southeastern United States. This understanding of diverse geographies has reinforced his appreciation of the unique qualities of every individual place and the importance of expressing innovative and collaborative solutions which sustain those values.
INTS LUTERS, ASLA, PLA
Lan d sca pe Arc hi tec t / Ha bitat Designer Ints is a registered landscape architect whose focus is on integrated ecological design. He knows regional ecological systems and biological communities intimately. He understands the scales and ways these systems operate; from regional landscape processes to inuences at the site scale. His approach is to understand the key natural and cultural contexts and the scales at which they inuence the project and its site. The natural threads of habitat, water and wildlife are integral to any lasting solution and can come together to engage the community and reinforce a sense of place.
GREG M U R P H Y, A S L A , PLA , LEED AP Lan d sca pe Arc hi tec t / Ha bitat Designer
Greg is a registered landscape architect and LEED accredited professional experienced in leading and supporting multi-disciplinary teams from design through construction administration on a wide variety of projects all designed to foster human connection with the natural and built environment. In all of his work, he strives for honest use of the land and its resources, encouraging natural storm water management and energy and water efficiency. His specialties include project team facilitation, permitting and code compliance, document quality control, and construction administration.
l e a d e rs h i p
Seattle, WA Jacksonville, FL
“Chris and Steve were excellent facilitators keeping the process moving smoothly along. Their wealth of knowledge, experience, creativity and ‘thinking out of the box’ lead to an amazing set of exhibits that took advantage of our unique landscape.” Peter Pruett, Director of Operations, Lake Superior Zoo “ELM is able to gather the information in very good interactive sessions that include all the players and then within days come up with a design that not only meets all of the requirements but that goes above and beyond our greatest expectations and imaginations!” Cathi Decker, Executive Director, Friends of Santa Ana Zoo “Chris listens well. If you ask for a change, the next time you see the drawings, the changes will be there. If he feels really strongly about something, he’ll say, “Lets talk about it,” but he won’t simply ignore the change. He’s a good leader; he gets a lot of cooperation from the zoo staff as well as his own team.” Steve McCusker, Executive Director, San Antonio Zoo
p ro j e c t ex p e r i e n c e
911 Western Avenue #575 1035 Kings Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
t 206 650 8589
w elm-plan.com/zoos
Jacksonville, FL 32207
t 904 296 8066
w elm-plan.com