facilities renewal master plan - National Zoo - Smithsonian Institution

FACILITIES MASTER PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
As a result of this consultation, a programmatic agreement will be sought that identifies
future review requirements and mitigation to be employed during project development.
Future design would consider ways to minimize impacts to National Zoo Historic Site
and the historic structures that comprise the Site, such as following the principles outlined
in The Secretary of the Interiors Guidelines for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
Projects under Alternative C that could have an adverse effect to historic resources
include:
Creation of new larger multi-species exhibit areas;
Rehabilitation of older exhibits in historic buildings;
Revitalization of entries at Connecticut Avenue, Mid-Point entry, and Harvard
Street Bridge/Beach Drive with the addition of a new aerial tram;
New Parking structure; and
Rehabilitation of the service buildings such as Propagation Building, the
Police/Public Restroom building, and the Holt House.
The creation of new larger multi-species exhibit areas will physically impact the National
Zoo Historic Site because new exhibit spaces would cause changes to the setting, feeling,
and association. New construction also introduces new visual features in the viewshed.
The rehabilitation of older exhibits, such as the rehabilitation of the Small Mammal
House, the Reptile Discovery Center, the Think Tank, the Bird House, and the Great
Flight Cage, could impact these buildings as they are character defining features to the
National Zoo Historic Site. However, it is anticipated that rehabilitation of these
buildings will generally be restricted to interior modifications to include upgrading the
building systems, interior renovations, and exhibit renewals. Exterior changes to the
buildings’ character-defining features are not anticipated. However, if such work were
needed, rehabilitation efforts would strive for final designs that retain architectural
features that make each building unique as well as retain the massing, exterior materials,
and fenestration pattern which is in keeping with the Secretary of the Interior’s
Guidelines for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
The revitalization of older exhibits will physically impact the Camel Building and the
Peccaries Building, as they will be relocated.
The revitalization of the entries at Connecticut Avenue and Harvard Street Bridge/Beach
Drive would have physical and visual effects on the design, setting, feeling, and
association of the National Zoo Historic Site. The revitalization of the entry at
Connecticut Avenue would impact the setting through the expansion of the existing
visitor center and the construction of the aerial tram. In particular these actions may
diminish the setting in the area of the Stone Guard Shack and may require the removal of
the stone entry piers.
The rehabilitation of service buildings would impact the setting, feeling, and association
of the National Zoo Historic Site. Alternative C proposes the rehabilitation of the
Propagation Building, the Police/Public Restroom Building, and the Holt House. It is
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