Login
Registered users
The Minnesota Zoo opened in 1978 as one of the first zoos to organize exhibits by their habitat rather than their species, a progressive departure at the time. The original design included a 1.25-mile-long monorail that looped through the 485-acre grounds; this infrastructure was decommissioned in 2013. The idea to transform it into The Treetop Trail was conceived by the zoo director after a visit to the High Line in NYC. It was a unique opportunity for the Minnesota Zoo to strengthen their overall mission, which is to “connect people, animals, and the natural world to save wildlife.” By transforming the infrastructure into a walking trail, visitors are given the chance to immerse themselves in nature, much like the monorail aimed to do, but with the freedom to curate their own adventure.
Cast your vote giving a wish to this project.
The grounds of the Minnesota Zoo are split into a northern and southern region. The southern region contains the developed part of campus with accessible infrastructure, buildings, active programming, and outdoor exhibits connected by a ground trail system. The northern region (of “North Forty”) is a deciduous forest that was not accessible to zoo visitors after the monorail was decommissioned. The Treetop Trail reestablishes a direct, elevated connection to this forest, allowing visitors of all abilities and ages to engage with and view the flora and fauna that flourish in the area's regional landscape. To enhance accessibility and ease of use within a large campus, the four access point locations were carefully calibrated to tie into the existing zoo ground trails and amenities.
Above all else, the Treetop Trail needed to respect the context within which it was constructed. The surrounding exhibits and landscapes were considered at every step of design and construction, preventing physical and acoustic disturbances to animals and visitors. As a sustainable reuse project, extreme care was taken to use the existing structure in the most efficient and expansive way possible, adding structural material only when necessary. All new materials were selected for longevity and compatibility with existing materials, and the trail was constructed in modular pieces offsite to reduce waste, energy use, and construction time. The goal of SITES certification, currently under review, was supported by the specification of local materials and resources within a 500-mile radius.
The Treetop Trail is the first step in a larger framework that the Minnesota Zoo has embarked on to more closely connect people to the natural world. This mission underpinned every design decision, so much so that design elements were deliberately quiet. The priority was to amplify the beauty of the surrounding landscape, provide new views and perspectives, and to slow people down to observe and enjoy the sounds and benefits of nature. This premise inherently prioritizes the mental and physical wellness of visitors to the Minnesota Zoo. The design process of the trail considered the different ways people might interact with nature, from active or passive engagement, to fully immersive or absorptive experiences. The design provides clear stopping points to pause, reflect, learn, and observe. Some of these moments are guided by nearby interpretative elements, but many others are meant to be discovered by the visitor. Architecture is also used to encourage multiple ways of accessing the trail, whether that be through an open grand staircase, a graceful ramp nestled in the landscape, or a well-placed elevator that links ground circulation to the new trail. These design features are reinforced by the paired programming of the Minnesota Zoo. Built-in flexibility in the trail design supports recreation, creativity, conservation, and evolving wellness programming that the Zoo rotates throughout the seasons.
The Treetop Trail is a continuous, immersive greenspace bringing guests up to 32 feet into the canopy, offering a breath-taking view of the Minnesota Zoo and animals below. In addition to creating a sense of awe and wonder, it connects guests with nature and inspires action to save wildlife in Minnesota and around the world. The trail strengthens connections between people, nature, and animals in an accessible and engaging manner. See more from our client at treetoptrail.mnzoo.org.
Fueled by a belief that every project can become extraordinary, Snow Kreilich Architects focuses on producing architecture that is intelligent, inventive, and compelling. From a weekend house to a rest area, a border station to a soccer stadium, we approach our work with the assumption that it should expand the architectural conversation into new territories while meeting or exceeding multiple measures of design success. The best architecture is not born out of a priori assumptions; instead, it is conditional for each project. Our process begins not with design, but with research to deeply engage pragmatic and aspirational expectations, the physical location, and the cultural, social, ecological, economic, and political contexts of place. We openly question assumptions and frame opportunities to expand design possibilities.
https://treetoptrail.mnzoo.org...
