facilities renewal master plan - National Zoo - Smithsonian Institution

More documents

Recommendations

Info

FACILITIES MASTER PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Figure 5. Alternative A E. Alternative B Under Alternative B (see Figure 6), the development of large, multi-species exhibits would occur throughout the National Zoo. This development would distribute visitors more evenly across the National Zoo’s facilities. Older exhibits would be revitalized and the flat land, once used for surface parking, would be developed as exhibits. The entry and arrival sequence would be enhanced and consolidated through the revitalization of two existing visitor entrances, one at Connecticut Avenue (1), the other at Harvard Street Bridge/ Beach Drive (2). A smaller dedicated entry for those arriving by bus would be located at Parking Lot B (3). The current Bus Lot (4) would be reclaimed for exhibit space. A surface tram along the North Road (5) would connect the entries at the upper SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION – NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK 24 | P a g e
FACILITIES MASTER PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT and lower ends of the park to assist visitors in traversing the National Zoo’s steep topography. Exhibit Strategies/Visitor Experience The Great Ape House (11) would be renovated to provide enhanced visitor services and education space at a central point in the National Zoo. Amazonia Science Gallery (12) would be modified so that the main entrance would be located on Olmsted Walk. Beaver Valley exhibits and walkways (13) would be designed to separate service from visitor circulation and allow universal access through a series of bridges, structures, lifts, and ramps that would mitigate the topography. A children’s discovery area or entertainment zone (14) would be located near the current Kids’ Farm. Entry/Arrival/Parking Connecticut Avenue – The Connecticut Avenue entry (1), the major entry for pedestrians and visitors coming from WMATA buses and trains, would be revitalized with a defined plaza for events and informal gathering and a new underground parking garage (6). Current Parking Lot A (7) would be reclaimed for exhibit space. The current visitor center (8) would be enlarged, renovated, and reprogrammed to include visitor services such as restrooms, information kiosks, educational facilities, retail, dining, a FONZ membership office, and event space. Harvard Street Bridge/Beach Drive – The entry near Harvard Street Bridge/ Beach Drive (3) on the east side of the Rock Creek site would provide an entrance for visitors parking in Parking Lots D or E (9), pedestrians entering from Adams Morgan, or visitors coming from a WMATA shuttle or bus. The entry would be reconfigured and revitalized to provide visitor services such as information kiosks, educational facilities, rental, retail, event space, and a tram station. The Mane Restaurant would continue to provide dining and event support. Surface Parking Lots D and E (9) would remain at the lower end of the park. Transportation/Circulation/Service Congestion along North Road would be mitigated through a comprehensive traffic and parking management strategy. This would include the addition of two traffic circles (17) and a limited-use turn lane on North Road. During peak times and events, the traffic circles would be used for passenger drop-off, vehicular turnarounds, and information dissemination. A park-based shuttle system running on North Road (5) would connect the lower and upper traffic circles (17). This would provide an alternative to mitigating the steep topography within the park for visitors. The efficiency of this service would be based on traffic conditions on North Road. Service vehicle and visitor conflicts would be minimized by separating the visitor and service paths in Beaver Valley and by limiting service from Olmsted Walk when possible. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION – NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK 25 | 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 80 and 81:
FACILITIES MASTER PLAN ENVIRONMENTA
Page 82 and 83:
Page 84 and 85:
Page 86 and 87:
Page 88 and 89:
Page 90 and 91:
Page 92 and 93:
Page 94 and 95:
Page 96 and 97:
Page 98 and 99:
Page 100 and 101:
Page 102 and 103:
Page 104 and 105:
Page 106 and 107:
Page 108 and 109:
Page 110 and 111:
Page 112 and 113:
Page 114 and 115:
Page 116 and 117:
Page 118 and 119:
Page 120 and 121:
Page 122:
show all

facilities renewal master plan - National Zoo - Smithsonian Institution

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?