Archinect - News 2024-12-22T03:43:23-05:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/150358663/world-s-longest-elevated-pedestrian-loop-at-the-minnesota-zoo-officially-opens World's longest elevated pedestrian loop at the Minnesota Zoo officially opens Nathaniel Bahadursingh 2023-07-31T16:05:00-04:00 >2024-10-25T04:07:38-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/62/621824f72dec3a1359d353b382cf14ba.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>The Minnesota Zoo Treetop Trail, the world&rsquo;s longest elevated pedestrian loop, is officially open to the public. The project, which saw 1.25 miles of a former monorail structure <a href="https://archinect.com/news/article/150308778/monorail-track-converted-into-elevated-treetop-trail-by-minnesota-zoo-and-snow-kreilich-architects" target="_blank">repurposed into a walkway</a>, will take guests 32 feet above the ground and provide new views of and experiences with the zoo&rsquo;s diverse wildlife, hardwood forest, and wetlands.</p> <p>The scheme&rsquo;s design was led by Minneapolis-based <a href="https://archinect.com/firms/cover/18743/snow-kreilich-architects" target="_blank">Snow Kreilich Architects</a>, alongside engineering firm <a href="https://archinect.com/firms/cover/38008/burohappold" target="_blank">Buro Happold</a> (known for its work on the <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/2191/high-line" target="_blank">High Line</a> in <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/12384/new-york-city" target="_blank">New York City</a>) and landscape architecture and urban design practice <a href="https://archinect.com/tenxten" target="_blank">TEN x TEN</a>. The construction leader was <a href="https://archinect.com/firms/cover/118506897/pcl-construction" target="_blank">PCL</a>. Together, the team was committed to minimizing disruptions to the zoo&rsquo;s animals and guests before, during, and after construction.</p> <p>&ldquo;The Treetop Trail marks a new chapter for the Minnesota Zoo,&rdquo; said John Frawley, the institution's director and foundation president. &ldquo;As we look ahead to the Zoo&rsquo;s next 45 years, the Treetop Trail is a major step in furthering connections to nat...</p> https://archinect.com/news/article/150308778/monorail-track-converted-into-elevated-treetop-trail-by-minnesota-zoo-and-snow-kreilich-architects Monorail track converted into elevated treetop trail by Minnesota Zoo and Snow Kreilich Architects Niall Patrick Walsh 2022-05-04T09:00:00-04:00 >2024-10-25T04:07:38-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/99/991f8735fc1443454de603ee53c2f534.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>The Minnesota Zoo is to begin construction on its <a href="https://treetoptrail.mnzoo.org/" target="_blank">Treetop Trail</a>, which will see 1.25 miles of former <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/1153570/monorail" target="_blank">monorail</a> track repurposed as a pedestrian walkway. Scheduled for completion in summer 2023, the trail will see guests explore hundreds of acres of hardwood forest, wildlife, and wetlands from 32 feet in the air.</p> <figure><figure><a href="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/92/92fdcecb1d488b48031779a2ee623170.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;enlarge=true&amp;w=1028" target="_blank"><img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/92/92fdcecb1d488b48031779a2ee623170.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;enlarge=true&amp;w=514"></a><figcaption>Rendering via Minnesota Zoo</figcaption></figure></figure><p>The scheme was designed by Minneapolis-based <a href="https://archinect.com/firms/cover/18743/snow-kreilich-architects" target="_blank">Snow Kreilich Architects</a>, who began feasibility work on the project in 2016, including appraisals of the monorail track&rsquo;s structural capacity. The architects gave particular attention to five so-called &ldquo;touch-down&rdquo; points from which visitors would access the trail. </p> <p>&ldquo;These points should hint at what will be explored on the trail and invite visitors to explore nature,&rdquo; said the architects as well as serving as amenity stations with clear paths to dining, programs, and exhibits. </p> <figure><figure><a href="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/c1/c12f254dbea27abd260c791a526a49a6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;enlarge=true&amp;w=1028" target="_blank"><img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/c1/c12f254dbea27abd260c791a526a49a6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;enlarge=true&amp;w=514"></a><figcaption>Rendering via Minnesota Zoo</figcaption></figure></figure><p>The design of the scheme was inspired by the <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/2191/high-line" target="_blank">New York City High Line</a>, which saw a comparable 1.45-mile...</p> https://archinect.com/news/article/150257636/heavy-rail-vs-monorail-could-the-recent-approval-of-two-transit-proposals-change-la-s-most-challenging-transit-corridor Heavy Rail vs Monorail: Could the recent approval of two transit proposals change LA's 'most challenging transit corridor?' Katherine Guimapang 2021-04-01T13:59:00-04:00 >2021-04-02T13:48:25-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/f7/f7034d431f1ab8a3c066baccb4f3f2b5.jpeg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>Los Angeles freeways are notorious soul-sucking pathways that most residents face daily. The infamous 405 freeway is considered one of the most "congested stretches of highway in the United States." However, as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2021/03/27/its-not-elon-musks-hyperloop-but-car-clogged-la-may-build-space-age-monorail/?sh=297b8b4d524c" target="_blank">Forbes Staff writer Alan Ohnsman reports</a>, there may be two solutions the city's transportation authority can get behind. "Local officials are considering an audacious fix for commuters on the city's west side: a sleek, automated $6.1 billion monorail to whisk riders above soul-crushing freeway jams," writes Ohnsman. "A rival proposal for a $10.8 billion subway from a group led by construction giant Bechtel, running below the highway, also won PDA funds worth up to $69.9 million."</p> <p>While many remember the "hyped" vacuum-tube hyperloop proposed by Tesla and SpaceX founder <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/154376/elon-musk" target="_blank">Elon Musk</a> making headlines, the city did not make it a contender for transit funding. LA traffic is inevitable, but will the proposed LA Skyrail Express and subway project from Bechtel lead the city to an impro...</p> https://archinect.com/news/article/150068984/lax-announces-consortium-to-build-its-new-4-9bn-monorail-system LAX announces consortium to build its new $4.9bn monorail system Alexander Walter 2018-06-13T14:03:00-04:00 >2020-09-22T13:01:04-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/51/51202611722fbb6a0216d240ad37e47b.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><em><p>Bombardier Rail Technologies, ACS Infrastructure Development, Balfour Beatty, Fluor Enterprises and HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions North America have all been chosen to deliver a $4.9bn project to design, build and install an automated people mover system at Los Angeles International Airport. [...] The system will run on a 3.6km elevated dual-lane guideway and will serve six newly-built stations, creating connections between the airport, public and private transportation, and a new car rental facility.</p></em><br /><br /><!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html><head><meta></head></html>