NEXT CENTURY PLAN: KEY PROJECTS

Moving to the future, the Next Century Plan illustrates an exciting and innovative new direction for Brookfield Zoo Chicago while weaving together legacy elements of the Zoo’s past. Nearly half of the Zoo’s sweeping 235 acres in the Forest Preserves of Cook County will be re-imagined, expanding wildlife habitats and transcending conventional zoo design for a fully immersive experience.



North Gate Arrival: Guests will be met with a renovated North Gate building, restored to its original prominence at the Zoo. The interior retail spaces are refreshed, with visual connectivity from 31st Street on the north to the North Gate Plaza on the south. From the southern arcade façade, an indoor/outdoor gift shop expands into the plaza. Gazing across the plaza toward the east, guests are drawn toward Sea Lion Cove or the new, permanent Butterfly House along the west façade of Discovery Center. A new allée of trees running south along the Zoo’s original axis draws guests past the carousel toward Roosevelt Fountain to begin their Zoo excursion. Alternatively, an inviting pathway curves westward toward the reimagined Australia region, beginning the visit with an immersive, walk-through experience.



Wildlife Discovery: This zone will feature expanded attractions, recreational activities and interactive experiences to engage guests of all ages with the wonders of wildlife. New habitats at the former Bear Grottos will feature animals, including sloth bears, sun bears, wolverines and red pandas. Designed to create a central, communal space to attract more new and diverse audiences to the Zoo, a spacious new amphitheater situated away from animal habitats will host programs from educational presentations to musical performances, such as the Zoo's successful Roaring Nights concert series that supports the organization's conservation programs around the globe. Additionally, a permanent butterfly house will provide year-round opportunities for visitors to learn about the lifecycle and migration of the important pollinators. 

Gateway to Africa: This will be a 35-acre haven where guests can witness firsthand the splendor of Africa's wildlife and natural landscapes. A multi-species habitat with 12.5 acres for elephants, alongside rhinos, lions, giraffes, and other iconic species, the transformation will provide a new innovation in animal shifting capabilities for flexibility between the various habitats, linking together four distinct ecoregions: South African Forests, African Savannah, East African Forests, and Central African Forests. This flexibility will be possible thanks to the creation of the new Savannah Passage, a half-mile long, multi- species transfer corridor that allows for rotational habitat expansion and variety. The Savannah Passage links multiple habitats across the northwest quadrant of the Zoo, facilitating a changing landscape for the animals and guests to experience.


 
Gateway to Africa: Pachyderm Building: The renovated Pachyderm Building - one of the Zoo's original structures -  will reverse the current animal-guest relationship by replacing indoor animal space with exciting guest programs during the day, and private catering event space in the evening, offering expansive views to the flexible, mixed-species Savannah habitat north of the building. New animal facilities will be developed elsewhere that provide spacious indoor habitats and the best in modern zoological care.
 


Himalayan and Central Asian Steppe: Tucked into the western reaches of the Zoo, this region – a part of Phase 3 that represents projects starting in 2034 and beyond – will highlight the rugged landscape that is home to snow leopards and takin. Taking advantage of natural old-growth forest on the Zoo's property, from under a viewing trellis, guests will be able to search among the rocky outcrops to find camouflaged cats exploring their habitats. A nearly invisible barrier between the habitats will create visual continuity with the takin habitat beyond, where these rock-climbing mammals will bdelight guests with their graceful movements. 

Our Rivers to the Gulf: Dolphins will have a new, indoor/outdoor shallow-lagoon simulating their home range at Sarasota Bay, Florida, where Brookfield Zoo Chicago leads the world's longest-running dolphin conservation research program. A sweeping boardwalk will immerse guests in a mangrove forest where connections between the Illinois River and conservation efforts in the Gulf of Mexico are made.