Enhancements Made at the Saginaw Children’s Zoo

New restroom, concessions, and pavilion facilities reflect the Zoo’s commitment to inclusive, sustainable and family-centered design

CITY OF SAGINAW — Spicer Group recently completed a project at the Saginaw Children’s Zoo that marks an important step in the Zoo’s broader $3 million initiative aimed at improving the facility over a four-year period. Spicer Group’s role in this project included comprehensive design, engineering, and oversight of the construction of a consolidated restroom, concessions, and pavilion structure, which replaced outdated facilities and enhances the visitor experience.

The Saginaw Children’s Zoo has a rich history dating back nearly a century. Established in 1929 by Commissioner George Phoenix of the Parks and Cemeteries Department, the Zoo began as a modest collection of animals housed in a corner of the park located at Washington Avenue and Ezra Rust Avenue in Saginaw. Over the years, it has evolved into an educational and recreational destination for families in the Great Lakes Bay region. 

In 2015, the Zoo embarked on updating its overall master plan. Through this process, the Zoo Master Planning Committee identified several new projects to complete, along with existing amenities that needed updating or replacing.

“In order to get to the new ideas, we really needed to tackle some of our existing shortcomings,” Gary Hochthanner, Director of Physical Plant & Facilities Planning said.

As part of the Zoo’s ongoing effort to maintain and modernize its facilities, Spicer Group was tasked with overseeing a series of improvement projects. The primary goal of this project aimed to replace outdated facilities with a unified structure that housed food service (concessions), a ‘central’ restroom, and a seating pavilion to update services and elevate visitor experiences. The Zoo’s food service facility, the Train Whistle Café, was originally installed in the early 2000s, with the idea that a permanent structure would eventually be needed. That idea became a reality with the construction of a new building, totaling 1,148 square feet, which features a 460-square-foot concession area and a 688-square-foot restroom. However, the construction was challenged with some unique obstacles. 

Newly completed restrooms in unified structure

“Trying to squeeze the building in between an existing feature, the railroad track and the depot, right where the track curves, was a challenge and resulted in a segmented arc,” Spicer Group Project Manager Dave Marr, AIA, said. “This posed unique issues with material fitment for the ceilings and roofing, but these were successfully overcome.”

Wm. Bronner & Son Construction was the contractor for the project, and the funds for the design and construction were raised through the Saginaw Valley Zoological Society, the Zoo’s non-profit organization, via fundraising and donations. In addition, the railroad track had to be removed during part of the process, reinstalled, and reopened while construction continued. 

“The Train is one of the Zoo’s main attractions outside of the animals,” said Hochthanner. “This made for tough work at times while bringing materials into the site or even working, but the contractors understood this and conducted themselves well during the process, maintaining a safe setting for our visitors.”

Peacock in freshly poured concrete - photo provided by the Saginaw Zoo

Beyond the building design, there were other unique challenges on the site. The Zoo, which is over 90 years old, has had many utilities added and modified over the years. The project site is a busy intersection of utility mains, which complicated fitting the new building. The main waterline was discovered in a slightly different location than previously thought, and the new building ended up partially over a section of the line. Before construction could continue, the waterline had to be relocated. Spicer Group worked with the Zoo and contractor teams to tackle this problem efficiently, ensuring the project could proceed smoothly.

Throughout construction, a secure perimeter fence had to be maintained to safeguard the facility against unplanned entry or potential animal escape. Spicer Group included these special needs in the construction documents, adapting so that no incidents occurred. Since construction took place during the Zoo’s open season, additional precautions were also taken to ensure visitor safety. Project fencing was installed to allow visitors to view the project progress during their visit, but also keep them out of harms way.

The Zoo has free-roaming peafowl, which presented another challenge. 

“There were two incidents with a bird walking through freshly poured concrete. No precautions could be made to prevent this activity. The birds can fly to some degree, so there is no barrier that could really keep them out without encapsulating the whole project site,” said Hochthanner. “The contractors were very accommodating, and repairs were made before the concrete had set. Washing the bird’s feet off might have been a harder challenge!”

In addition to the restroom, concessions, and pavilion structure, Spicer Group and the Zoo prioritized inclusivity by incorporating family restrooms and comfort spaces. These areas were designed with privacy and convenience in mind, offering facilities for nursing mothers, quiet spaces for rest, and accommodations for families with young children or special needs. 

“These additions were part of a broader effort to create a more welcoming environment for all visitors, ensuring families could enjoy their visit to the zoo without the stress of inadequate facilities.” - David Marr, AIA

“We wanted people entering the toilet rooms to have some privacy, so we created these screen panels that allow air and light to pass through but hinder the view. Ideally, these panels will be painted by local artists to aid in the distraction of what’s going on behind the screens,” Marr said.

Spicer Group also oversaw essential site improvements to support the new and renovated structures. These included surveying the area, conducting geotechnical investigations, and performing soil borings to assess the ground conditions for construction. Detailed site plans were developed, including grading, utility layouts, and stormwater management strategies, ensuring that the new developments would be supported by a solid infrastructure. Spicer Group engineers and project architects worked closely to integrate mechanical, electrical, and structural design elements, ensuring that all systems would work together within the new facilities.

A special design feature included the incorporation of innovative color-changing LED lighting, which enhanced the aesthetic appeal of the new structures and the visitor experience.

Outside of Train Whistle Cafe