Designer Visions of Wellness

Architects from leading zoo design firms think outside the box during this facilitated group discussion. Featuring Jeff Sawyer of CLR, Chris Overdorf of ELM, and John Kemper of PGAV Destinations.

Speakers and participants at the workshop will consider how the construct of “wellness” inspires a new approach to designing and managing wildlife exhibits in zoological parks and aquariums. This unique gathering of experts and operators will focus on elephants and other mega-fauna that require extraordinary creativity to live well in the limited space of zoos and aquariums. The workshop will open on Thursday, 10 March, with a presentation by Dr. Kate Evans who will review her field studies of the African elephant in Botswana and South Africa. Dr. Evans will connect the priority of conservation with the messages that are possible when naturalistic exhibits encourage elephants to thrive rather than merely cope. A lively discussion with Dr. Evans will prepare participants for the next two days of presentations and debate. We encourage zoo directors, planners, curators, educators, scientists, keepers and students to join us in Jacksonville for this opportunity to examine wellness and its applications in zoos and aquariums.