Construction of Tropical Mammal Enclosur

Zoological Education Centre construction

This was one of the most satisfying builds we have been involved with: a suite of tropical mammal enclosures created from the ground up for a Zoological Education Centre, and now home to species including the charming common marmoset you can see peering out at the camera.

The brief was demanding, and rightly so. Tropical mammals need warmth, humidity and, above all, complexity. We worked from the animals outwards — mapping vertical climbing routes, thermal gradients, gnawing and foraging opportunities, sight-line breaks and genuinely private retreat space where an animal can simply step away from the public gaze. Only once the biology was settled did we finalise the engineering, the materials and the servicing arrangements for keepers.

The result comfortably meets the Secretary of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice, but we are prouder of what happens inside it. Animals that climb, forage, socialise and rest naturally. Keepers who can work safely and efficiently. Students who see authentic tropical ecology rather than a diagram in a textbook.

That dual purpose matters enormously to us. A well-designed enclosure is simultaneously a home, a teaching resource, a conservation ambassador and a visitor attraction — and there is no reason it cannot excel at all four.

If you are planning new provision, refurbishing something tired, or simply wondering whether your existing housing is working as hard as it could, do talk to us early. The best welfare outcomes are designed in at the beginning, not retro-fitted at the end. We love this part of the job.