Giraffe Barn steel
The structural package included the new approximately 12,000-square-foot giraffe care facility within the African Rift Valley redevelopment.
LocationColorado Springs, Colorado
ClientDrake-Williams Steel
Structural steel440 tons
Project overview
Supporting a new chapter in the Zoo’s 100-year history.
Located on the slopes of Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is undertaking a major redevelopment designed to enhance animal care, improve the visitor experience and modernize its infrastructure while preserving the distinctive character of the site.
The project includes a new admissions plaza, upgraded visitor amenities and a state-of-the-art addition to the Zoo’s African Rift Valley zone.
Designed around animal welfare and visitor engagement.
A central part of the development is the International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffes. The facility features a modern giraffe barn of approximately 12,000 square feet and an expanded outdoor habitat designed to support animal welfare and create engaging, up-close experiences for visitors.
The broader redevelopment also includes:
- a new admissions plaza,
- upgraded visitor amenities,
- a new café,
- a new gift shop,
- exhibit facilities within the African Rift Valley zone,
- improved visitor circulation areas.
Project team and technical details
- Project period
- 2025–2026
- Engineer
- Studio NYL
- Architect
- CSNA Architects
- General contractor
- iiCON Construction Colorado
- Primary scope
- Structural steel detailing
- Detailing platform
- Tekla Structures
- Primary structures
- Giraffe Barn and Gift Shop
- Featured facility
- International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffes
Detailing scope
Designed around animal welfare and visitor engagement.
Gift Shop and visitor facilities
Steel detailing covered the second primary structure and its relationships with associated visitor areas and circulation.
Members and connections in Tekla
A detailed 3D model defined the structural components and connections across the 440-ton steel package.
Multidisciplinary coordination
Clash detection and model reviews coordinated structural interfaces with architecture, the site and phased construction requirements.
Fabrication and erection information
The model supplied consistent steel information for fabrication and field assembly within the constrained zoological environment.
Technical complexity
Precision detailing shaped by topography, phasing and multiple building functions.
Complex mountainside terrain
Sloping topography required accurate coordination of the structural model with the building architecture and site conditions.
Phased work in an active zoo
Construction sequencing and visitor circulation introduced logistical requirements that had to remain aligned with the steel information.
Two structures with different functions
Animal-care and visitor buildings needed consistent detailing across distinct steel areas and multiple disciplinary interfaces.
Our approach
BIM-driven workflows connecting design, fabrication and erection.
The Tekla model was developed with constructability and downstream use in mind. Structural members and connections were defined accurately to support reliable fabrication data and efficient field assembly.
Model-based coordination allowed project participants to review interfaces between systems, address conflicts earlier and maintain consistent information across the two primary buildings.
This approach helped reduce site uncertainties and supported more efficient erection planning within the constrained project environment.
A constructible 3D model for a challenging mountainside site.
The Zoo’s complex topography and phased construction requirements demanded a high level of accuracy and coordination throughout the detailing process.
Using Tekla Structures, our team developed a detailed, fabrication-ready 3D model of the structural steel package. The model supported coordination between disciplines and provided a reliable source of information for fabrication and erection.
Clash detection and precise component definition helped identify potential conflicts before steel reached the site, reducing uncertainty during construction.
Project animation
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo model sequence.
The project animation presents the coordinated structure and its construction sequence in a clear visual format.
Project result
A coordinated steel package for a unique zoological environment.
The project demonstrates how advanced steel detailing and BIM-driven coordination can support construction on a challenging site with complex sequencing requirements.
By combining accurate fabrication information with multidisciplinary 3D coordination, our team helped deliver a reliable and constructible structural solution for facilities designed to serve the Zoo, its animals and its visitors for years to come.