New KC Zoo Penguin Exhibit

[slimwhitman]

I went to the zoo today. For some reason I thought the new penguin exhibit was open. Well, it opens tomorrow (Friday) so I could not go in. I stood there for quite some time and soaked in the terrible architecture. The upper panels of mixed blue colors are nice, but the rest of the building (all 4 sides) and the entry plaza makes an '80s era Taco Bell building look good. The zoo has really stepped up the quality of exhibit design and architecture to a high level in the past decade, but this one building/plaza is so terrible. Looks cheap, too. The sides and back are brutally plain and cheap.

I cannot speak to the actual exhibit or interior. As you go there and experience it, reply to this thread.

[Roanoker]

You can see my pictures of the excellent penguin attraction at the St. Louis zoo here: http://forum.kcrag.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... te#p470919.

Hopefully, the inside of the Kansas City version will be as nice.

[KC_JAYHAWK]

Looks like the front of a Sherwin Williams store

[chaglang]

The renderings are even less exciting. It looks like the design phase was someone spending an afternoon fooling around in SketchUp.

http://www.bbnarchitects.com/fusion_civic_15.html

[kucer]

We went this morning. I think they did a great job overall. Very nice flow and plenty of viewing areas. They were feeding when we were there which was funny. They all started marching over to the staff as soon as they entered the main display. The warmer climate penguins have an indoor/outdoor space.

I like it a lot better than the STL exhibit. More spacious and no open air stankiness.

[moderne]

Why haven't any of the designers taken a cue from the original zoo buildings of native limestone? The buildings would have fit into the Blue River topography better.

[missingkc]

I agree the building is unattractive and looks cheap. However, based on glowing reviews by professionals of the quality of the birds' environment, sounds like that's where the zoo put its money. I'd say, if you have to make a choice, they put their money in the right place.

[chaglang]

Why haven't any of the designers taken a cue from the original zoo buildings of native limestone? The buildings would have fit into the Blue River topography better.

Budget, I'd guess. But they could have used the same materials and produced a more interesting exterior.

[IraGlacialis]

On the upshot, it probably wouldn't take much to overall the facade of the place if they get around to it. Really, all that matters is that the habitat is up to date and a good collection is provided.

So the penguins are completely closed off?
If so, I can see why, but personally, I actually liked the open-air nature of STL's exhibit.

[Highlander]

On the upshot, it probably wouldn't take much to overall the facade of the place if they get around to it. Really, all that matters is that the habitat is up to date and a good collection is provided.

So the penguins are completely closed off?
If so, I can see why, but personally, I actually liked the open-air nature of STL's exhibit.

I was out there last week. The penguins that can tolerate warmer temperatures are not closed off. They have an internal and external exhibit. Those penguins that cannot tolerate heat are completely sealed off from the visitors. I suspect the operating costs are much lower than St Louis's exhibit but I did kind of like the open feel to the St Louis exhibit. On the upside, after a sweaty day at the zoo, having the penguins isolated will be a good thing as it was difficult to take the freezing temps in St Louis when one's shirt is soaked with sweat. What surprised me was that there was a single tank for several species of penguins rather than separate exhibits for each (like in St Louis). This means that as you progress through the exhibit you see basically a different angle on the same thing rather than different species.

As an aside, the automatic revolving exit door was already broken at the exhibit and people, being as people are, were trying to force it open when it was clearly an automatic only door. We took the adjacent door out while people continually shoved with all their might to get out the revolving door to budge. I suspect it's even more broken now than it was.

The zoo still needs density badly.

[IraGlacialis]

What surprised me was that there was a single tank for several species of penguins rather than separate exhibits for each (like in St Louis). This means that as you progress through the exhibit you see basically a different angle on the same thing rather than different species.

I remember the main penguin exhibit in STL actually containing several species; of course the warm air exhibit at front was mono-specific. It's just that the two sides flanking the walkway were different terrain, so that even though they were connected by the passages under the walkway, the various penguin species would keep to their own.

Personally I found walking into STL's exhibit quite enjoyable after a long walk in a hot day, but I can see how others would find it disagreeable. And power saving is a valid concern.

On a related note to STL and aquatic exhibits: has anybody seen the new seal/sea lion area? Would something liek that do well in KC's zoo.

[shinatoo]

Went to the Zoo today. Penguin exhibit is pretty cool. Twice as crowded as I have ever seen it. Lawn parking all the way around to the other side of Starlight.

I don't know if the zoo brings out the worst people but it had to be the fattest bunch of people I've ever seen. Worse than any Disney park I've been to. Loud, obnoxious and foul mouthed, and the parents were even worse. Real embarrassed for KC since there were a lot of people in from the Big XII tournament. Just a hot mess of human trash.

Seriously people, you know you're not supposed feed animals in a zoo. Grow the F-up.

Plus the Zoo was NOT ready for that big of a crowd. Perfect storm for a big attendance.

[brewcrew1000]

Just a hot mess of human trash.

The STL Zoo is much worse, Free Zoo Admission makes a huge difference

[grovester]

It's not KC, it's not the zoo, it's de-evolution.

[longviewmo]

This showed up on Reddit, so I assume it happened today. And apparently it was everywhere.

[shinatoo]

This showed up on Reddit, so I assume it happened today. And apparently it was everywhere.

Yes, it was everywhere. I saw maybe a 1/4 of the zoo and I saw it 6-7 times.

[Highlander]

Went to the Zoo today. Penguin exhibit is pretty cool. Twice as crowded as I have ever seen it. Lawn parking all the way around to the other side of Starlight.

I don't know if the zoo brings out the worst people but it had to be the fattest bunch of people I've ever seen. Worse than any Disney park I've been to. Loud, obnoxious and foul mouthed, and the parents were even worse. Real embarrassed for KC since there were a lot of people in from the Big XII tournament. Just a hot mess of human trash.

Seriously people, you know you're not supposed feed animals in a zoo. Grow the F-up.

Plus the Zoo was NOT ready for that big of a crowd. Perfect storm for a big attendance.

I am a big zoo fan. Hate to see this kind of nonsense. Was it a free day?

[flyingember]

Was it a free day?

they're all on Tuesdays this year

[flyingember]

Yes, it was everywhere. I saw maybe a 1/4 of the zoo and I saw it 6-7 times.

I predict someone will be doing community service at the zoo soon

[brewcrew1000]

I bet that Tuesday Free day at the zoo comes to an end pretty quick

Shots Fired, i believe there was a shooting before on a free day
http://www.kmbc.com/news/police-respond ... t/25039838