Animation of the new Detroit Zoo penguin center: Animation of the interior of the new Detroit Zoo penguin center
Royal Oak — The Detroit Zoo
announced Wednesday a $10 million gift and plans to build a
state-of-the-art penguin center, which will be the largest exhibit
constructed in its 85-year history.
The
gift from the family of Stephen Polk of Bloomfield Hills will be used to
create a new $21 million Polk Family Penguin Conservation Center that
will try to recreate the essence of Antarctica.
Much
like the zoo's Arctic Ring of Life polar bear exhibit, visitors will be
able to walk through tunnels. They also will be surrounded by swimming
penguins, both above and below their feet in some cases. The aquatic
area will feature a 310,000-gallon, 25-foot-deep body of water chilled
to the penguins' comfort.
On first entering
the center, visitors will walk down ramps into what the zoo is calling a
"4-D" experience, which will mimic the turbulent drama of crossing
Drake's Passage to get to Antarctica.
The
24,000 square-foot center will be home to 80 penguins from four species —
rockhopper, macaroni, king and, new to the zoo, gentoo penguins as
well.
“I feel very fortunate that Bobbi and
I can make a contribution like this and to be able to give something
back to Detroit,” said Polk, former chairman and CEO of R.L. Polk &
Co., referring to this wife during the announcement made Wednesday at
the zoo’s Ford Education Center. Polk also is vice chairman of the zoo’s
board of directors. R.L. Polk & Co. is a Southfield-based provider
of automotive data and market strategies.
Detroit
Zoo Director Ron Kagan announced the penguin exhibit will be larger
than the zoo’s current polar bear and seal exhibit combined, with
architecture that resembles a cracking iceberg.
“Just
like the polar bears, we felt it was time for us to invent the next
generation” for the penguins, Kagan said while displaying images of the
new exhibit in a slideshow presentation.
During
the presentation, Kagan described how visitors will pass through
glass-enclosed passages, where even the floors will be glass.
“So penguins will literally be doing laps around us,” he said.
Kagan
said the zoo still has to raise $8 million to hit the full $21 million
price tag. Construction should start by March 2015; Kagan expects the
center to be completed in 2015.
Kagan said the zoo was simply advancing a long tradition.
"In
the mid-’60s, this zoo was brilliant in creating the Penguinarium," he
said. "Even today, its design is unparalleled. But just as we did with
polar bears, we felt it was time to invent the next generation and
maintain that leadership."
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