Goettsch Partners has announced the completion of the Pepper Family Wildlife Center, a $41 million renovation, restoration, and expansion of the historic lion house at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo. 

The new 54,000-square-foot facility nearly doubles the size of the previous lion habitat, providing increased transparency and a more immersive experience for visitors. Designed in collaboration with Seattle-based zoo exhibit specialists PJA, the habitat focuses on providing choices for the animals and enhancing wellbeing, from thermal comfort zones for heating and cooling to intricate rockwork and trees for climbing. 

The original lion house was designed by architect Dwight Perkins and completed in 1912. In 2005, it was designated a Chicago Landmark, celebrated for its decorative brickwork and terra-cotta ornament, lion mosaics, and grand hall with its vaulted Guastavino tile ceiling. The design team worked closely with the Commission on Chicago Landmarks to preserve, restore, and enhance the architecturally significant features of the original Arts and Crafts building, including the masonry, clay tile roof, copper gutter, windows, and doors.

“The renovation and restoration work revitalizes one of Chicago’s historic architectural gems,” said technical principal at Goettsch Partners, Patrick Loughran. “New features and functionality allow the facility to better serve the needs of the zoo and visitors well into the future.” 

The new lion habitat spans the entire northern side of the building. Its design was informed by data collected by the zoo over the last several years on lion behavior and space use. Large one-and-a-half-inch-thick glass panels provide expansive views of the lion space. The new space expands the environmental options for the lions by including more engaging climbing features. In addition, tree structures and deadfall, along with food ziplines that simulate prey further enrich the experience for the lions. 

“A major goal shared by zoo leadership and the design team was to substantially improve the lion habitat, with a focus on the wellbeing of the animals,” said Joachim Schuessler, design principal at Goettsch Partners. “At the same time, our design greatly enriches the experience of visitors by eliminating visual barriers and creating a closer connection between humans and lions within the space.”  

The new design also includes the Lion Loop, a sunken elliptical path that leads visitors into the center of the habitat. The loop provides visitors the opportunity to view the lions from all angles, including overhead skylights. The project also includes a demonstration training wall where visitors will be able to view the lions working with zoo staff.

The Pepper Family Wildlife Center is Goettsch Partners’ second major project at Lincoln Park Zoo, with the firm having also designed the Regenstein Center for African Apes in 2004.