facilities renewal master plan - National Zoo - Smithsonian Institution

More documents

Recommendations

Info

FACILITIES MASTER PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Parking Lot A and the Bus Lot would be reclaimed and older exhibits and flat land areas would be revitalized for visitor use. The new Beaver Valley exhibits and walkways, and the addition of a dedicated service road from Amazonia Science Gallery to Bird Hill would be designed to separate park service from visitor circulation. The creation of large exhibit areas and separation of visitors and service access would enhance the visitor experience. Revitalization of visitor entrances at Connecticut Avenue and Harvard Street Bridge/Beach Drive, as well as a minor entry at Parking Lot B would enhance visitor use and experience through the consolidation of multiple points of entry to three main areas that would include restrooms, dining, retail and other visitor amenities. Additional park facilities and special event venues would also be included under Alternative B. The Connecticut Avenue visitor center would be renovated and reprogrammed. The conversion of the Great Ape House into a visitor and educational center would also provide a consolidated area for educational and interpretive experiences, causing a longterm beneficial impact to visitor use and experience. Visitor circulation would be improved through the design of the new exhibit areas and steep topography would be mitigated with the introduction of a ground-based tram that would run back and forth on North Road, having a long-term beneficial impact to visitor use and experience. Alternative C (Preferred Alternative) Under Alternative C, new construction and renovation of existing facilities and exhibit areas would have an effect on visitor use and experience. Available parking would be increased, and multiple entries throughout the park would be consolidated to three primary areas, and a dedicated bus entry. A new Mid-Point visitor hub would replace the Great Ape House, enhancing the visit by providing special event venues and educational areas. Circulation would be eased with the introduction of both aerial and ground-based trams. Activities likely to impact visitor use and experience in the Alternative C concept include: Reclamation of Parking Lots A, B and D for the creation of new large multispecies exhibit areas; New Beaver Valley exhibits and walkways; Revitalization/expansion of visitor entrances at Connecticut Avenue, Midpoint entry, and Harvard Street Bridge/Beach Drive; New above ground parking structure at current Parking Lot C site; and a twostory underground parking structure near the Connecticut Avenue entry; Addition of two new traffic circles on North Road; Construction of an aerial tram system and implementation of a ground-based system on North Road; Construction of a new service road from Amazonia Science Gallery to Bird Hill; The construction of a new administrative, support and operations hub near the Parking Lot C site; and SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION – NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK 100 | P a g e
FACILITIES MASTER PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Additions to research buildings near the hospital, a new greenhouse, and a small staff parking lot near Holt House. The implementation of Alternative C would renew park infrastructure by reclaiming Parking Lots A, B, and D for use as exhibit areas. Older exhibits and flat land areas would be revitalized, accommodating future collection planning and enhancing visitor experience. The addition of large and new exhibits in areas with more favorable topography would have a long-term beneficial impact to visitor use and experience. The new Beaver Valley exhibits and walkways, as well as new service roads, would be designed to separate park service from visitor circulation. This would enhance the visitor experience both through the addition of new animal exhibits, and by dedicating the walkways exclusively to visitor use, without conflicts due to service vehicles. The revitalized Beaver Valley and separation of service from visitor areas would have longterm beneficial impacts to visitor use and experience. Consolidation and revitalization of entrances at Connecticut Avenue, Midpoint entry, and Harvard Street Bridge/Beach Drive would replace the multiple entrances presently found throughout the National Zoo site. This would improve the entry and arrival experience for visitors by providing iconic entry points. Each area would include visitor amenities such as restrooms, kiosks, retails and dining and other services. A new Mid-Point visitor hub would replace the Great Ape House and further enhance the visit by providing special event venues and educational areas, as well as provide a stop accessible to all visitors for clarification and more comprehensive interpretation of the National Zoo’s mission, goals, and exhibits. The revitalized entrances under Alternative C would have long-term beneficial impacts to visitor use and experience. The new underground and above ground parking structures would be located near the consolidated visitor entry points. The structures would not only increase overall parking capacity, but would also ensure the visitors pass through one of the entry points for a more cohesive arrival than under current parking conditions. The increased parking capacity and the location of the new structures would have long-term beneficial impacts to visitor use and experience. The proposed aerial and ground-based trams would each help to mitigate the steep topography of Olmstead Walk and help to ease circulation throughout the park. In addition, passengers of the aerial tram would enjoy the unique perspective of viewing the National Zoo from above, an opportunity which is not currently available. These actions would have long-term beneficial impacts to visitor use and experience. Mitigation for the Preferred Alternative To the extent possible, construction routes for individual projects will be designed to avoid conflicts with pedestrian traffic. Arrival/departure times will typically be scheduled around normal visitor hours, and visitors will be redirected around construction areas. When renovations are underway at entrances, shops, and locations that provide amenities, similar services will be offered elsewhere on the site to avoid disruptions to SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION – NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK 101 | P a g e
Page 1:
SI # 0333114 FACILITIES MASTER PL A
Page 4 and 5:
This page intentionally left blank.
Page 6 and 7:
FACILITIES MASTER PLAN ENVIRONMENTA
Page 8 and 9:
Page 10 and 11:
Page 12 and 13:
Page 14 and 15:
Page 16 and 17:
Page 18 and 19:
Page 20 and 21:
Page 22 and 23:
Page 24 and 25:
Page 26 and 27:
Page 28 and 29:
Page 30 and 31:
Page 32 and 33:
Page 34 and 35:
Page 36 and 37:
Page 38 and 39:
Page 40 and 41:
Page 42 and 43:
Page 44 and 45:
Page 46 and 47:
Page 48 and 49:
Page 50 and 51:
Page 52 and 53:
Page 54 and 55:
Page 56 and 57: FACILITIES MASTER PLAN ENVIRONMENTA
Page 122: FACILITIES MASTER PLAN ENVIRONMENTA
show all

facilities renewal master plan - National Zoo - Smithsonian Institution

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?