Skip to Content

Zoo Design Services

With nearly three decades in zoo design and projects at more than 55 zoos across the country, WDM is a proud partner to the zoological community.

View Featured Projects
Zoo Design Services WDM Architects Wichita KS 2

Conservation Focus. Crowd-Pleasing Results.

We approach every zoo design project in light of its impact on conservation. Our priority is to do what is right for the animal, whether the project is a propagation facility that must recreate exact breeding conditions or an enriching habitat that encourages instinctive behaviors.

Compelling guest experiences are also crucial to conservation. We create educational environments that foster intuitive connections with the animals, moving guests toward support of conservation programs.

Zoo Design Services WDM Architects Wichita KS 3

Animal Healthcare Facility Expertise

Animal hospitals are a complex undertaking, combining the technical systems of a human hospital with the safety protocols of dangerous animal facilities. Our zoo design team is experienced with these challenges, having completed many hospitals, quarantine facilities and animal veterinary clinics.

The zoo design team works with our in-house medical studio to ensure the latest medical equipment and systems requirements are incorporated.

Explore Zoo Design

Master Planning: Position Your Zoo for Success

Play Video

Zoo Exhibit Design and Your Mission

Play Video

Improving Guest Experience Through Zoo Design

Play Video

What Clients Say

“WDM is extremely easy to work with, extremely flexible. They are really great at designing within the budget parameters, and I think that’s very important.”

Bert Castro

President/CEO of Arizona Center for Nature Conservation and the Phoenix Zoo

 View Project

“What I like most about working with WDM  is they they focus on the clients’ goals. They don’t design the project for you, they design the project with you.”

Bert Castro

President/CEO of Arizona Center for Nature Conservation and the Phoenix Zoo

 View Project

“The Phoenix Zoo attracts about 1.6 million visitors per year. Our old entrance had a single point-of-entry which had people standing in line for long periods of time, and not always happy about it. With the help of WDM we built a new, beautiful front entry which allows us to manage high attendance days more efficiently and its been a night and day difference.”

Bert Castro

President/CEO of Arizona Center for Nature Conservation and the Phoenix Zoo

 View Project

“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

 View Project

“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

 View Project

“Our employees found WDM’s staff to be extremely talented, professional and creative. We were impressed with their ability to create cutting-edge facilities while keeping a close eye on the bottom line.”

Jim Fleshman

Director, BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo; former Executive Director, Cameron Park Zoo

 View Project

“WDM did a great job listening to not just me as the executive director, but also to the design team on my side: the animal care staff, the facilities staff, and really incorporating all those ideas.”

Christopher Kuhar, Ph.D.

Executive Director of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

 View Project

“Our investment really paid off in terms of guest interaction. It completely transformed the guest experience.”

Christopher Kuhar, Ph.D.

Executive Director of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

 View Project

“I am pleased with the beauty and expert craftsmanship of the exhibit, the careful thought and meticulous attention to detail that went into designing this habitat, and the professionalism of the teams who worked diligently on completing this great undertaking. This nearly 20,000-square-foot Sumatran tiger habitat is well suited for two of the most majestic creatures on Earth and, hopefully, in the future, will be home to cubs as well. We have heard positive comments and praise from our guests about the exhibit, and everyone takes great delight at seeing these striking animals up close.”

Bert Castro

President/CEO of Arizona Center for Nature Conservation and the Phoenix Zoo

 View Project

“Throughout our work with WDM, it was always evident they were designing our project, not their project. They listened to our wishes and offered solutions that addressed our needs while also offering valuable suggestions we had not contemplated. They proved to be adept both at resolving big-picture issues and highly technical details.”

Craig Piper

Director of City Zoos, Wildlife Conservation Society, New York (formerly Director of The Denver Zoo)

 View Project