San Diego Zoo New "Africa Rocks" complex at San Diego Zoo
- Thread starter DavidBrown
- Start date
sandiegomaster
Well-Known Member
So I was looking at the website to see what will be in Africa rocks.
By the main Africa rocks site, patas monkeys, vervet monkeys, aye aye, red ruffed lemur, honey badger, dwarf crocodile, sociable weaver, carmine bee-eater, southern ground hornbill and beautiful sunbird.
They have rady falls, Madagascar and Africa forest as three of the five habitats.
The Madagascar fundraiser site has blue-eyed black lemur, mouse lemur, aye-aye, collard lemur, red ruffed lemur, sifaka, ring-tailed lemur and a fosas exhibit.
The site says there will be a waterfall, I don’t know if it would be the rady falls and I realize that if the falls has a dwarf crocodile that it would be the wrong part of Africa, I’m just trying to figure out if rady falls is its own habitat or not.
Next is shades of Africa (forest canopy). They updated the website and it says “Thirty species of mammals and birds, including African leopards, spotted hyenas, vervet and patas monkeys, ratels, southern ground hornbills, and carmine bee-eaters.” There will be one walkthrough aviary for 20 bird species and the only other animal mentioned is a red bishop weaver.
Finally the new site the cliffs of Africa with hamadryas baboons, geladas, Nubian ibex, and warthogs.
I still hear rumors of penguins, I wonder what the other two habitats will be, unless the falls counts as a habitat and the penguins count as a coastal habitat.
By the main Africa rocks site, patas monkeys, vervet monkeys, aye aye, red ruffed lemur, honey badger, dwarf crocodile, sociable weaver, carmine bee-eater, southern ground hornbill and beautiful sunbird.
They have rady falls, Madagascar and Africa forest as three of the five habitats.
The Madagascar fundraiser site has blue-eyed black lemur, mouse lemur, aye-aye, collard lemur, red ruffed lemur, sifaka, ring-tailed lemur and a fosas exhibit.
The site says there will be a waterfall, I don’t know if it would be the rady falls and I realize that if the falls has a dwarf crocodile that it would be the wrong part of Africa, I’m just trying to figure out if rady falls is its own habitat or not.
Next is shades of Africa (forest canopy). They updated the website and it says “Thirty species of mammals and birds, including African leopards, spotted hyenas, vervet and patas monkeys, ratels, southern ground hornbills, and carmine bee-eaters.” There will be one walkthrough aviary for 20 bird species and the only other animal mentioned is a red bishop weaver.
Finally the new site the cliffs of Africa with hamadryas baboons, geladas, Nubian ibex, and warthogs.
I still hear rumors of penguins, I wonder what the other two habitats will be, unless the falls counts as a habitat and the penguins count as a coastal habitat.
sandiegomaster
Well-Known Member
They hit the 15 million point on the main website!
Huh. [Slightly off-topic but] I didn't know that the Bronx Zoo was the only zoo in the country to exhibit geladas. I should consider myself lucky to have the opporunity to see the geladas as often as I do.
And this may just be me, but I feel like they're cramming a whole lot into this 8-acre space. Is anyone else worried about the actual size of these exhibits?
And this may just be me, but I feel like they're cramming a whole lot into this 8-acre space. Is anyone else worried about the actual size of these exhibits?
I can't tell,but on the far left I seem to see the word "penguin" and I can also see on the right plans for what appears to be a new zebra exhibit. Thank you so much for sharing.
If those green lines are the exhibit areas, then the leopard exhibit is tiny - only half the size of the fossa exhibit?
jbnbsn99
Well-Known Member
Judging from the scale on the map, it looks to be 40' x 20' or about 800 sq. ft. Very small indeed.
Next on San Diego Zoos To Do list is: do something with Urban Jungle
I am sure there are already discussions going on behind the scenes.
Savanna Theme would be a good option or Animal Greats (as they have cheetah rhino giraffe kangaroo.....
Yeah, it looks very tiny. Especially since it appears that they're going to have three(?) sizable enclosures for... baboons.
Gulo Gulo said:
Hopefully, because glancing at this plan it looks like SDZ is not using "Rocks" in the geological sense like I assumed, but like the slang usage. It should be Africa Rocks! and a whole mess of pyrotechnics goes off as you venture through the gate.
If they're taking comments, I would remove the entire Madagascar segment and development a more focused exhibit elsewhere. Put in something, like, a Nile crocodile or two. Or, adjust the scheme to include the cave dwelling crocs from Madagascar.
Do any zoos on the West Coast actually have Nile crocs?
Speaking of Rady Falls, there was this article from last year with a bit of concept art.
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Since I am fascinated with zoo design, especially as it relates to this zoo, I will make some observations on this schematic plan that was posted to the Hope-Amundson website of this structural engineering firm (link posted in several recent posts in this thread). I certainly have no insider insight into the plan but I am familiar with the site.
The schematic plan is dated February 25 2014 so it is fairly recent. Most of the labels are difficult to read, and many appear to be redline comments made to update a previous version(s). The architect is listed on Hope-Amundson's website as the Miller Hull Partnership. Whether they are the primary designer or a subcontractor for design of the structures is unclear; looking at the Miler Hull website, they do not seem to have a focus on zoo design. Their buildings are mostly modern civic and educational ones. This project is not listed on their own website as far as I can find. The schematic plan has several structures, so if they are the choice for designing them it certainly makes sense for this zoo (which generally avoids themed buildings such as African huts in favor of contemporary structures).
One of the major design moves of this plan is the separation of the pedestrian trail (which will meander significantly down the canyon) from the bus/service road (which will descend in a more direct route). This is a similar approach to the design of Tiger Trail, Ituri Forest, Elephant Odyssey, and Panda Trek. This will result in a quieter and more intimate experience for the pedestrian, and will make some of the exhibits out of reach to the bus tour. My recent visits have convinced me that the bus tour (which I loved as a child) is an annoyance; the further away I am from their noise and energy, the better. The plan shows that several of the animal holding buildings will be adjacent to the bus road, further limiting its view into the exhibits. A note on the plan says something about this being an 'interpretive oppurtunity'. However they spin it, I am glad that the exhibit designs seem to be oriented toward the pedestrian trail rather than the bus road. The downside of this arrangement is that when the double-decker busses travel by the exhibits, they may be in view of the backgrounds of the exhibits when viewed from the pedestrian trail. This is currently an issue with several exhibits in Elephant Odyssey, including those for African lion, secretary bird, and California condor. Several short spur trails from the main pedestrian trail will connect with the bus road, presumably for service and emergency access but not for everyday pedestrian use.
The bus road is shown as having a new route. Instead of entering the canyon's top at the entrance to the existing African Kopje exhibit complex, it will now enter it directly next to the edge of the new Outback exhibits for koalas. This will result in the destruction of the 1950's era shade structure there as well as the old exhibits that currently house wombats and tree kangaroos (a good loss as long as new homes are found for them). The bus route will then descend and follow the Eastern edge of the canyon in what appears to be the location of the existing Big Cat Trail and its 5 antique cages for leopards etc. This will mean that the bus route will mostly move East and to a higher average elevation than its current route, making more room for exhibits. The road will rejoin its existing route and the pedestrian trail at the bottom of the canyon, just before Sun Bear Forest and the Panda Café. It is unclear whether the nearby old exhibits (the diamond-shaped cage for birds, the round cage for sakis, and the small yard for porcupine) will require destruction but I would encourage it!
The major zones of the complex are readable on the plan. If they match the previously published reports that there would be 5 zones, they are (descending down the canyon): Savanna Montane Kopje (that sounds like 3 zones together, doesn't it?), Plaza, Madagascar, Nocturnal, and Coastal. Where is the zone that correlates to the zoo's 'African Forest Canopy' fundraising campaign? Also, there is a label in similar size and font called Catenary Structure that seems to overlap two of the zones. Obviously this is confusing and in a state of change. My only observation on this is that I am glad the kopje area will adjoin the existing African Kopje exhibit complex.
The rest of my post will be detailed observations and descriptions of the readable labels and exhibits as they descend down the canyon in case the plan is removed from the website:
At the top (North) of the canyon, the existing African Kopje exhibit complex from 1986 appears to be mostly unchanged. Great news, it is excellent! The pedestrian trail will begin at the existing junction of the old bus road (near the exiting exhibit labeled 'Klipspringer') and run in front of the existing bataleur eagle exhibit (labeled 'Eagle'), where it appears that a new boardwalk will be built. I presume this boardwalk will decrease the slope of the existing ground trail in this spot; this will be necessary (along with all the trail switchbacks throughout the design) to make the entire complex compliant for universal access on the steep site. On the opposite side of the short boardwalk will be a large exhibit, about twice as large as the existing bataleur eagle aviary, labeled ''Hornbill'. It occupies the space where the current bus road enters the canyon. I presume it is for ground hornbill; it is unclear whether it is a yard or aviary, but I am guessing it is a yard. It would be great if it also had warthog and bat-eared fox, just like the great mixed-species exhibit at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The boardwalk also is the junction of the only one of the spur trails that appears to be for everyday use since it is long and has secondary viewing areas for a few exhibits; it rejoins the bus road near where its new route enters the canyon, adjacent to the koala exhibits. The spur trail forms the lower perimeter of a new exhibit that occupies the existing Bactrian camel and llama exhibits on the hillside and is labeled 'Zebra'. I certainly hope that this new exhibit actually transforms the former ones, rather than being a cheap renovation; I can imagine budget constraints making this one a comparative disaster. There is a note that the exhibit will actually be two yards for shifting animals if needed. Back at the main trail, just past the existing bataleur eagle aviary, are two small adjacent exhibits labeled 'Ratel' that appear to have kopje-like back walls. A note says they will be 800SF each. It will be great to see this species featured so prominently! They occupy the space currently used by the New Guinea singing dog exhibit.
The next stretch of the trail appears to be the best section of the schematic plan, and it will occupy the area of the current striped hyena exhibit and the 6 empty antique small grottoes that formerly held various canines and goats. The trail itself will be on a hillside elevation, approximately where the back of the current grottos are; the 3 new large yards will probably descend down from the trail to the canyon floor and then rise back up the opposite hillside. The 3 yards are all labeled 'Baboon' and I presume that at least one will actually be for geladas and perhaps Nubian ibex, in a nod to the similar great exhibit at Bronx Zoo. There are a lot of unreadable notes on the plan relating to these 3 yards, but it seems to refer to ibex and warthogs several times. Rocky viewing nodes along the trail offer several views into each exhibit, and rocky outcrops in the exhibit landscapes echo the theme. I can imagine all this being brilliant; if there is a part of the plan that should be approved at this point, this is it! In addition, there is a label along the trail for 'Bee Eater' but a note says it would be a future exhibit...why not just build it at the same time??? After the baboon exhibits, there is a long exhibit labeled 'Patas' and another large yard labeled 'Hyena' with more rocky outcrop viewing areas.
The next stretch of trail and exhibits is extensive and in my opinion could turn into a real mess if not done sensitively. It is the area that the large zone label 'Catenary Structure' seems to refer to. These will be mostly large mesh wire-enclosed exhibits and have the potential to be an eyesore due to the way their various shapes come together in a concentrated area at various angles. They will occupy the area currently occupied by the 2 Chacoan peccary yards and the 5 antique small wire cages that have mostly been occupied by small carnivores. The first exhibit is a long one that runs alongside the Patas monkey yard mentioned earlier. It is labeled 'Vervet'. Next is a small rectangular exhibit labeled 'Leopard' on the far downhill end of the hyena exhibit mentioned earlier. A note says something about rotating the leopards and hyenas, and that the hyena holding area needs to be expanded to make room for holding leopards. This is intriguing for a number of reasons: will they truly exhibit an African subspecies (very rare in zoos now!)? Will the leopards actually rotate into an outdoor yard (very rare to do so!)? Next is a very large rectangular exhibit labeled 'Aviary' and 'Waterfall'. Although I enjoy all the small bird exhibits at the zoo, it is great to know that the primary bird exhibit in this complex will be a proper walk-thru habitat. Yet I am surprised...the existing massive Scripps aviary in Lost Forest is also devoted to African birds, although perhaps this one will focus on those not from rainforest locales. A looping path enters and exits this exhibit with two boardwalks that appear to be elevated. The far end is dominated by a waterfall that begins a depressed valley stream that will run through several downhill exhibits. The first of these exhibits is labeled 'Lemur' and is a very large rectangular one that spans the stream valley. The trail becomes a boardwalk as it follows the Northside, then rejoins ground and runs along the Westside before becoming a boardwalk again to run along the Southside. A second smaller rectangular exhibit labeled 'Lemur' is on the Westside, adjacent to an exhibit labeled 'Fossa'. Another long rectangular exhibit labeled 'Fossa' and 'Lemur' has a note that the fossa and smaller lemur exhibits have switched places, so in effect there will be two lemur exhibits and one fossa exhibit. The fossa exhibit spans the stream valley with another boardwalk on the Northside. These lemur exhibits are not walk-through exhibits as I had hoped, but could probably be changed to be so. The path travels next to a holding building between the larger lemur exhibit and the fossa exhibit and has a note that it could have possible jewel box exhibits. I assume that could include Madagascar hissing cockroaches, since the zoo's website mentions that the variety of animals will include insects.
Next, the trail opens up to a large informal plaza with the biggest surprise to me: the entrance to the existing Hunte Amphitheater. I had assumed that the amphitheater would be demolished since it seems to be rarely used and occupies the largest relatively level space in the canyon. I thought that the savanna area would naturally go in this space. I was wrong! Where the current entry sign is for the amphitheater will be Rady Falls, the massive waterfall spilling into an exhibit for dwarf crocodile; it is labeled as 'Waterfall + Croc'. The existing animal holding complex for the amphitheater (with the plain curved wood façade that faces the current path/bus road) is sill there in its boring glory and forms the Western side of the plaza. It has an unreadable label, and there is a note that it is for possible keeper facilities and future restrooms...by all means add restrooms, there are no others on the plan! The plaza itself has a pond in the middle, with a label 'Water Play' or 'Water Park' and a note to add program storage. I would prefer that this large area of the plaza and Hunte Amphitheater was redesigned to eliminate the theater and replace it with more animal exhibits.
As the trail runs down the canyon, it reaches what looks like the largest new building, a rectangular one labeled as 'Nocturnal + Keeper'. This is probably where the aye-aye exhibit will be.
The final exhibit on the plan before it ends at Sun Bear Forest is labeled 'Penguin' and appears to be an impressive outdoor yard with a long pool and beach seen from rocky viewing areas.
The schematic plan is dated February 25 2014 so it is fairly recent. Most of the labels are difficult to read, and many appear to be redline comments made to update a previous version(s). The architect is listed on Hope-Amundson's website as the Miller Hull Partnership. Whether they are the primary designer or a subcontractor for design of the structures is unclear; looking at the Miler Hull website, they do not seem to have a focus on zoo design. Their buildings are mostly modern civic and educational ones. This project is not listed on their own website as far as I can find. The schematic plan has several structures, so if they are the choice for designing them it certainly makes sense for this zoo (which generally avoids themed buildings such as African huts in favor of contemporary structures).
One of the major design moves of this plan is the separation of the pedestrian trail (which will meander significantly down the canyon) from the bus/service road (which will descend in a more direct route). This is a similar approach to the design of Tiger Trail, Ituri Forest, Elephant Odyssey, and Panda Trek. This will result in a quieter and more intimate experience for the pedestrian, and will make some of the exhibits out of reach to the bus tour. My recent visits have convinced me that the bus tour (which I loved as a child) is an annoyance; the further away I am from their noise and energy, the better. The plan shows that several of the animal holding buildings will be adjacent to the bus road, further limiting its view into the exhibits. A note on the plan says something about this being an 'interpretive oppurtunity'. However they spin it, I am glad that the exhibit designs seem to be oriented toward the pedestrian trail rather than the bus road. The downside of this arrangement is that when the double-decker busses travel by the exhibits, they may be in view of the backgrounds of the exhibits when viewed from the pedestrian trail. This is currently an issue with several exhibits in Elephant Odyssey, including those for African lion, secretary bird, and California condor. Several short spur trails from the main pedestrian trail will connect with the bus road, presumably for service and emergency access but not for everyday pedestrian use.
The bus road is shown as having a new route. Instead of entering the canyon's top at the entrance to the existing African Kopje exhibit complex, it will now enter it directly next to the edge of the new Outback exhibits for koalas. This will result in the destruction of the 1950's era shade structure there as well as the old exhibits that currently house wombats and tree kangaroos (a good loss as long as new homes are found for them). The bus route will then descend and follow the Eastern edge of the canyon in what appears to be the location of the existing Big Cat Trail and its 5 antique cages for leopards etc. This will mean that the bus route will mostly move East and to a higher average elevation than its current route, making more room for exhibits. The road will rejoin its existing route and the pedestrian trail at the bottom of the canyon, just before Sun Bear Forest and the Panda Café. It is unclear whether the nearby old exhibits (the diamond-shaped cage for birds, the round cage for sakis, and the small yard for porcupine) will require destruction but I would encourage it!
The major zones of the complex are readable on the plan. If they match the previously published reports that there would be 5 zones, they are (descending down the canyon): Savanna Montane Kopje (that sounds like 3 zones together, doesn't it?), Plaza, Madagascar, Nocturnal, and Coastal. Where is the zone that correlates to the zoo's 'African Forest Canopy' fundraising campaign? Also, there is a label in similar size and font called Catenary Structure that seems to overlap two of the zones. Obviously this is confusing and in a state of change. My only observation on this is that I am glad the kopje area will adjoin the existing African Kopje exhibit complex.
The rest of my post will be detailed observations and descriptions of the readable labels and exhibits as they descend down the canyon in case the plan is removed from the website:
At the top (North) of the canyon, the existing African Kopje exhibit complex from 1986 appears to be mostly unchanged. Great news, it is excellent! The pedestrian trail will begin at the existing junction of the old bus road (near the exiting exhibit labeled 'Klipspringer') and run in front of the existing bataleur eagle exhibit (labeled 'Eagle'), where it appears that a new boardwalk will be built. I presume this boardwalk will decrease the slope of the existing ground trail in this spot; this will be necessary (along with all the trail switchbacks throughout the design) to make the entire complex compliant for universal access on the steep site. On the opposite side of the short boardwalk will be a large exhibit, about twice as large as the existing bataleur eagle aviary, labeled ''Hornbill'. It occupies the space where the current bus road enters the canyon. I presume it is for ground hornbill; it is unclear whether it is a yard or aviary, but I am guessing it is a yard. It would be great if it also had warthog and bat-eared fox, just like the great mixed-species exhibit at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The boardwalk also is the junction of the only one of the spur trails that appears to be for everyday use since it is long and has secondary viewing areas for a few exhibits; it rejoins the bus road near where its new route enters the canyon, adjacent to the koala exhibits. The spur trail forms the lower perimeter of a new exhibit that occupies the existing Bactrian camel and llama exhibits on the hillside and is labeled 'Zebra'. I certainly hope that this new exhibit actually transforms the former ones, rather than being a cheap renovation; I can imagine budget constraints making this one a comparative disaster. There is a note that the exhibit will actually be two yards for shifting animals if needed. Back at the main trail, just past the existing bataleur eagle aviary, are two small adjacent exhibits labeled 'Ratel' that appear to have kopje-like back walls. A note says they will be 800SF each. It will be great to see this species featured so prominently! They occupy the space currently used by the New Guinea singing dog exhibit.
The next stretch of the trail appears to be the best section of the schematic plan, and it will occupy the area of the current striped hyena exhibit and the 6 empty antique small grottoes that formerly held various canines and goats. The trail itself will be on a hillside elevation, approximately where the back of the current grottos are; the 3 new large yards will probably descend down from the trail to the canyon floor and then rise back up the opposite hillside. The 3 yards are all labeled 'Baboon' and I presume that at least one will actually be for geladas and perhaps Nubian ibex, in a nod to the similar great exhibit at Bronx Zoo. There are a lot of unreadable notes on the plan relating to these 3 yards, but it seems to refer to ibex and warthogs several times. Rocky viewing nodes along the trail offer several views into each exhibit, and rocky outcrops in the exhibit landscapes echo the theme. I can imagine all this being brilliant; if there is a part of the plan that should be approved at this point, this is it! In addition, there is a label along the trail for 'Bee Eater' but a note says it would be a future exhibit...why not just build it at the same time??? After the baboon exhibits, there is a long exhibit labeled 'Patas' and another large yard labeled 'Hyena' with more rocky outcrop viewing areas.
The next stretch of trail and exhibits is extensive and in my opinion could turn into a real mess if not done sensitively. It is the area that the large zone label 'Catenary Structure' seems to refer to. These will be mostly large mesh wire-enclosed exhibits and have the potential to be an eyesore due to the way their various shapes come together in a concentrated area at various angles. They will occupy the area currently occupied by the 2 Chacoan peccary yards and the 5 antique small wire cages that have mostly been occupied by small carnivores. The first exhibit is a long one that runs alongside the Patas monkey yard mentioned earlier. It is labeled 'Vervet'. Next is a small rectangular exhibit labeled 'Leopard' on the far downhill end of the hyena exhibit mentioned earlier. A note says something about rotating the leopards and hyenas, and that the hyena holding area needs to be expanded to make room for holding leopards. This is intriguing for a number of reasons: will they truly exhibit an African subspecies (very rare in zoos now!)? Will the leopards actually rotate into an outdoor yard (very rare to do so!)? Next is a very large rectangular exhibit labeled 'Aviary' and 'Waterfall'. Although I enjoy all the small bird exhibits at the zoo, it is great to know that the primary bird exhibit in this complex will be a proper walk-thru habitat. Yet I am surprised...the existing massive Scripps aviary in Lost Forest is also devoted to African birds, although perhaps this one will focus on those not from rainforest locales. A looping path enters and exits this exhibit with two boardwalks that appear to be elevated. The far end is dominated by a waterfall that begins a depressed valley stream that will run through several downhill exhibits. The first of these exhibits is labeled 'Lemur' and is a very large rectangular one that spans the stream valley. The trail becomes a boardwalk as it follows the Northside, then rejoins ground and runs along the Westside before becoming a boardwalk again to run along the Southside. A second smaller rectangular exhibit labeled 'Lemur' is on the Westside, adjacent to an exhibit labeled 'Fossa'. Another long rectangular exhibit labeled 'Fossa' and 'Lemur' has a note that the fossa and smaller lemur exhibits have switched places, so in effect there will be two lemur exhibits and one fossa exhibit. The fossa exhibit spans the stream valley with another boardwalk on the Northside. These lemur exhibits are not walk-through exhibits as I had hoped, but could probably be changed to be so. The path travels next to a holding building between the larger lemur exhibit and the fossa exhibit and has a note that it could have possible jewel box exhibits. I assume that could include Madagascar hissing cockroaches, since the zoo's website mentions that the variety of animals will include insects.
Next, the trail opens up to a large informal plaza with the biggest surprise to me: the entrance to the existing Hunte Amphitheater. I had assumed that the amphitheater would be demolished since it seems to be rarely used and occupies the largest relatively level space in the canyon. I thought that the savanna area would naturally go in this space. I was wrong! Where the current entry sign is for the amphitheater will be Rady Falls, the massive waterfall spilling into an exhibit for dwarf crocodile; it is labeled as 'Waterfall + Croc'. The existing animal holding complex for the amphitheater (with the plain curved wood façade that faces the current path/bus road) is sill there in its boring glory and forms the Western side of the plaza. It has an unreadable label, and there is a note that it is for possible keeper facilities and future restrooms...by all means add restrooms, there are no others on the plan! The plaza itself has a pond in the middle, with a label 'Water Play' or 'Water Park' and a note to add program storage. I would prefer that this large area of the plaza and Hunte Amphitheater was redesigned to eliminate the theater and replace it with more animal exhibits.
As the trail runs down the canyon, it reaches what looks like the largest new building, a rectangular one labeled as 'Nocturnal + Keeper'. This is probably where the aye-aye exhibit will be.
The final exhibit on the plan before it ends at Sun Bear Forest is labeled 'Penguin' and appears to be an impressive outdoor yard with a long pool and beach seen from rocky viewing areas.
sandiegomaster
Well-Known Member
Just found this article saying this company is doing the design for Africa rocks . Second to last paragraph.
The Voice of San Diego says Downtown Needs I.D.E.A. District
May 1, 2014/in Articles /by IDEA District
One of the guys trying to make the IDEA District happen is David Malmuth. He says things are going great. They plan to announce a tenant soon for 6,000 square feet, about 10 percent of what’s available. Malmuth and his partners need tenants to sign on so that they can get financing to start construction. He says he’ll lock down all the financing in the next 30 days.
Read the article by Scott Lewis in the Voice of San Diego.
Aerial View
Lowe Enterprises, Inc. and I.D.E.A. Partners, LLC Select The Miller Hull Partnership to Design IDEA1
April 22, 2014/in Articles /by IDEA District
Developers Lowe Enterprises, Inc. and I.D.E.A. Partners, LLC, have selected nationally recognized West Coast architectural firm The Miller Hull Partnership to design IDEA1, an urban mixed-use project with creative office space, apartments and street-level retail. Located on the full block bounded by E, F, Park and 13th streets, IDEA1 will anchor the I.D.E.A. District, a proposed 35-block area infused with Innovation+Design+Education+Art in Upper East Village. In addition, The Miller Hull Partnership has chosen IDEA1 as the site of its new San Diego headquarters.
“This is a major step in the evolution of Upper East Village. Miller Hull is exactly the type of creative, innovative firm that the I.D.E.A. District is designed to attract,” said Mike McNerney, senior vice president of Lowe Enterprises.
The Miller Hull Partnership, with offices in both San Diego and Seattle, has designed many high profile projects in San Diego over the past 10 years and has distinguished itself with more than 250 regional and national awards, including the prestigious American Institute of Architect’s AIA Firm Award, the highest honor conferred by the U.S. architectural community for consistently distinguished architecture.
In addition to IDEA1, current projects include the design of the ‘Africa Rocks’ exhibit at the San Diego Zoo, the San Ysidro Land Port of Entry, and the Mesa Community College Cafeteria and Bookstore. The firm has captured worldwide attention for its design of the landmark Bullitt Center in Seattle, targeting Living Building certification.
“The Miller Hull Partnership brings a wealth of knowledge about innovation districts, as the firm has contributed to the transformation of Seattle’s South Lake Union area – where tech firms, biomeds, restaurants, hip residences, and street life are all flourishing – into one of the best examples of how an urban jobs cluster can galvanize the fortunes of underused, formerly industrial downtown areas,” said Pete Garcia, principal, I.D.E.A Partners. “The Miller Hull team will help us spur the transformation of Upper East Village into a similar jobs engine.”
I.D.E.A. District | Blog
The Voice of San Diego says Downtown Needs I.D.E.A. District
May 1, 2014/in Articles /by IDEA District
One of the guys trying to make the IDEA District happen is David Malmuth. He says things are going great. They plan to announce a tenant soon for 6,000 square feet, about 10 percent of what’s available. Malmuth and his partners need tenants to sign on so that they can get financing to start construction. He says he’ll lock down all the financing in the next 30 days.
Read the article by Scott Lewis in the Voice of San Diego.
Aerial View
Lowe Enterprises, Inc. and I.D.E.A. Partners, LLC Select The Miller Hull Partnership to Design IDEA1
April 22, 2014/in Articles /by IDEA District
Developers Lowe Enterprises, Inc. and I.D.E.A. Partners, LLC, have selected nationally recognized West Coast architectural firm The Miller Hull Partnership to design IDEA1, an urban mixed-use project with creative office space, apartments and street-level retail. Located on the full block bounded by E, F, Park and 13th streets, IDEA1 will anchor the I.D.E.A. District, a proposed 35-block area infused with Innovation+Design+Education+Art in Upper East Village. In addition, The Miller Hull Partnership has chosen IDEA1 as the site of its new San Diego headquarters.
“This is a major step in the evolution of Upper East Village. Miller Hull is exactly the type of creative, innovative firm that the I.D.E.A. District is designed to attract,” said Mike McNerney, senior vice president of Lowe Enterprises.
The Miller Hull Partnership, with offices in both San Diego and Seattle, has designed many high profile projects in San Diego over the past 10 years and has distinguished itself with more than 250 regional and national awards, including the prestigious American Institute of Architect’s AIA Firm Award, the highest honor conferred by the U.S. architectural community for consistently distinguished architecture.
In addition to IDEA1, current projects include the design of the ‘Africa Rocks’ exhibit at the San Diego Zoo, the San Ysidro Land Port of Entry, and the Mesa Community College Cafeteria and Bookstore. The firm has captured worldwide attention for its design of the landmark Bullitt Center in Seattle, targeting Living Building certification.
“The Miller Hull Partnership brings a wealth of knowledge about innovation districts, as the firm has contributed to the transformation of Seattle’s South Lake Union area – where tech firms, biomeds, restaurants, hip residences, and street life are all flourishing – into one of the best examples of how an urban jobs cluster can galvanize the fortunes of underused, formerly industrial downtown areas,” said Pete Garcia, principal, I.D.E.A Partners. “The Miller Hull team will help us spur the transformation of Upper East Village into a similar jobs engine.”
I.D.E.A. District | Blog
sandiegomaster
Well-Known Member
Now I realize that the Madagascar exhibit was announced a while ago, but I remember something about the exhibit either replacing the theater or being next to the theater after you walk into the place. I thought for sure that they would get rid of that theater and use it for more animal exhibits, hopefully they still will.
I'm just thinking out loud here, but I wonder if they still have Africa Rocks out for bid and they haven't picked a winning designer yet after finding that IDEA1 thing. I wish I could see what there plans were.
I'm just thinking out loud here, but I wonder if they still have Africa Rocks out for bid and they haven't picked a winning designer yet after finding that IDEA1 thing. I wish I could see what there plans were.
sandiegomaster
Well-Known Member
Daily Business Report-April 28, 2014, San Diego Metro Magazine
Another article saying miller hull is doing the africa rocks exhibit
Another article saying miller hull is doing the africa rocks exhibit
BedildaSue
Well-Known Member
Every zoo needs a good plaza biome 
Not to bump up an old thread or to ask a question that's already been answered, but when is construction for this taking place? I'm headed to San Diego around Labor Day and want to see most SD's unusual animals… That being said, I understand that African Rocks is to be built in an area were a lot of phase out species are held. Do any of you know if I will still be able to see the old exhibits in that area? Or will that part of the zoo be under construction?
Thank you
Thank you