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  • Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Susie’s Bear Hollow
Zoo Habitat Design

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Susie’s Bear Hollow

Project Stats

Project Stats

Project Location:

Cleveland, OH

Year Completed:

2023

Area:

40,000 s.f.

Cost:

$8.5M

About the Project

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s new Susie’s Bear Hollow will triple the living space for Andean and sloth bears. The exhibit features four separate, interconnected areas that will give the bears more choice and variety and allow them the opportunity to use their tree-climbing instincts.

Bear Hollow improves the guest experience, allowing guests to get nose-to-nose with the bears in an immersive treehouse with nearly 360-degree views. Enhancements behind the scenes will also include multi-story resting areas to better support nesting bears.

Features:

  • Climbing structures
  • Elevated resting areas
  • Dig pits
  • Views of keeper training
  • Wobble tree feeder
  • Kid climbing structure for parallel play

Photo_Credit_Gina_Wilkolak_CMsociety-5 Photo_Credit_Gina_Wilkolak_CMsociety-4 Zoo Habitat Architecture Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Susie’s Bear Hollow Project WDM Architects 6 Zoo Habitat Architecture Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Susie’s Bear Hollow Project WDM Architects 1 Photo_Credit_Gina_Wilkolak_CMsociety-2 good pic of climber Photo_Credit_Gina_Wilkolak_CMsociety-1 Zoo Habitat Architecture Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Susie’s Bear Hollow Project WDM Architects 3 Zoo Habitat Architecture Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Susie’s Bear Hollow Project WDM Architects 4 Zoo Habitat Architecture Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Susie’s Bear Hollow Project WDM Architects 7

What Keepers Say

“We are designing for the future. We want Susie’s Bear Hollow to not only last throughout our careers, but also the careers of people that follow us.”

Travis Vinelyard

Animal Curator, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

What Clients Say

“Susie’s Bear Hollow is transformational for our guests and, more importantly for our bears, and provides future opportunities for our Zoo to play a role in sustaining these important species.”

Chris Kuhar

Executive Director, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

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Creating your vision starts with a conversation. Call (316) 262-4700 or send us a message now.

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WDM Architects
(316) 262-4700 105 N Washington, Wichita, KS 67202
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