PROJECT DESCRIPTION – California Living Museum – CALM Zoo – Big Cat Exhibit

Krech Ojard & Associates (KOA), working with third party architects from VHGA Architects, Paul Dhanens Architect, and Sean Stoddard from A thru Z Consulting, developed the structural design for the big cat exhibit including the foundations, structures, and the associated detailing. Teamwork was essential in producing a successful design that met all aesthetic and structural criteria while remaining cost efficient.

The final exhibit for Kern County included a state of the art bobcat and mountain lion exhibit as well as a holding building and visitor viewing structure. The exhibit consisted of cable mesh enclosures supported on structural steel and reinforced building structures.

Rockwork and water features were developed to match the enclosure environment to the local california landscape. The exhibit provided a natural habitat for the eight resident animals and a wonderful experience for all visitors that could be viewed from multiple locations around the enclosure.

The exhibit opened in 2010 with a final cost of around $2.5 Million.