Minnesota Zoo $20 Million Heart Of The Zoo

[snowleopard]

With the overwhelming success of the newly revamped "Minnesota Trail" (re-opened in 2007 and winner of an AZA significant achievement award) and the brilliant "Russia's Grizzly Coast" (opened in 2008 and winner of the AZA Best New Exhibit award) the zoo broke all-time attendance records and is now one of the more popular American zoos with 1.3 million annual visitors.

In 2010 "Faces of the African Forest" opened in the 1.5 acre Tropics Trail building, as the list of species in that rainforest complex has been tweaked over the years.

For 2011 the zoo has Phase 1 of the "Heart of the Zoo" complex earmarked for completion by the summer: Penguins of the African Coast, Cargill Environmental Education Center, Target Learning Center and South Entry Upgrade. This link has construction photos and additional information:

Minnesota Zoo Heart of the Zoo

 

[geomorph]

I am happy to see such progress for improving the entrance experience at this wonderful zoo! I had a feeling their plans for this, which involve alot of pricey architectural changes, were a bit pie-in-the-sky, especially in attracting new visitors; however, they are forging ahead to improve the existing experience!

 

[snowleopard]

The zoo's new penguin exhibit opens in July, but has anyone seen any site plans for it? Also, the last section of the news link lists the projects for the phased-in "Heart of the Zoo" complex. What animals will be featured in the African Kopje? With the spending set to reach around $70 million then I have no doubt that Minnesota will become one of the 10 best zoos in America within the next 5 years:

Minnesota Local News - minnlocal.com > News > Cw > Penguins on the march to the Minnesota Zoo

 

[Zooplantman]

With the spending set to reach around $70 million then I have no doubt that Minnesota will become one of the 10 best zoos in America within the next 5 years:

@snowleopard, remember that this zoo gets almost all of its funding from the state government. It has been very difficult in past years to get much out of them and under the current circumstances it is impossible.
You might want to reconsider your timeline

Anyway, while I haven't seen an exhibit plan, there are plenty of images available:

http://www.mortenson.com/Resources/Images/12172.jpg

http://www.mnzoo.org/ourmnzoo/images/3MPenguin_4-14_full.jpg

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2010/06/14/daily45.html