21st June – 26th July
We’ve been on site at Chester Zoo since last April as Principal Contractor creating the zoo’s exciting new ‘Heart of Africa’ zone. The new zone, brings together a range of different habitats and will be home to multiple rare and endangered species including giraffes, zebra, ostrich and antelope.
Currently, around 100 members of our team including sub-contractors are on site, all working towards completion of the project this coming December. As we enter the final phase of the project, things are starting to take shape…
Our works includes the creation of 14 new buildings, one of which is a future education centre where we’ve recently installed a pre-cast lift shaft. Further buildings and surrounding areas for giraffes, a hay barn and ungulate building (which provides a home to hooved mammals) are all nearing completion.
We’ve been adding a few finishing touches to the savannah area. Rocks, logs and sand have recently been installed. The structure for the giraffe feeding platform is now in position, ready for the deck and hand rail to be added shortly. We’re installing aerators into the moat area, these will keep the water moving, preventing it from freezing over during the autumn and winter months.
The wetland aviary is taking shape. Over the course of two days, we excavated an area, poured concrete and then, working with the zoo’s design team, applied the detailed edging. Next up, it was more concrete for foundation work ready for netting posts. We’ve also applied the asphalt flooring to the flamingo habitat.
Two large glass screens, which will form part of a public viewing gallery, are now in place. These screens will provide a ‘window’ on the comings and goings of the zoo’s resident aardvarks and meerkats.
The hidden savannah building is progressing well. Here you will find locusts, spitting cobra and naked mole rats amongst other species. The roof is now on along with the solar panels. As the building has no windows, we’ve fitted sun tubes to allow the right amount of UV light that these less sociable creatures need.
When is a rock not a rock? During your visit check out the rockwork wall at the giraffe habitat. It may look authentic, but it’s actually faux rockwork, made from a wire membrane filled with sprayed concrete which is hand finished and then painted. The Themer has recently been back on site, painting the rocks. All we can say is… it rocks!
We look forward to bringing you a further update very soon.
Until next time…
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