photo courtesy of Fortis Construction and Shane Kucera
Oregon Zoo, Education Center
Portland, OR
Business Type
Interpretive Center
Size
20,000 square feet
Architect
Opsis Architecture
Owner
Metro
Certifications
- Net-Zero Energy
- LEED Platinum
The Oregon Zoo Education Center pairs net-zero energy performance with immersive learning spaces to advance conservation education.
The Oregon Zoo Education Center brings together classrooms, labs, exhibits, and animal care spaces in a high-performance building designed to support the Zoo’s conservation mission. Efficient systems and on-site renewable energy minimize environmental impact while maintaining comfort for visitors and staff, allowing the building itself to serve as a hands-on teaching tool for sustainability.
Special Features
- The energy-efficient design features a 216kW roof-top solar array, heat recovery ventilation, passive cooling, and radiant slab heating and cooling.
- Built with Forest Stewardship Council-certified (FSC) wood, for a beautiful and natural finish.
- Educational tools were built in to showcase the Net Zero Energy design, such as how visitors can see the rainwater reclamation system and learn how it collects, stores, and uses rainwater.
- A screen displays info on how much solar energy the rooftop photovoltaic (PV) array is bringing in at any given moment, and how much energy the building is using.
- Features rainwater reclamation that provides water for flushing toilets.
- High performance building envelope reduces heating and cooling requirements.
- Won the AIA COTE Top Ten Award in 2019.
