Image courtesy of Pacific Building Group

By HARMONY STILES

ESCONDIDO, Calif. – Pacific Building Group, a San Diego-based general contractor, has completed construction of the new 13.2-acre Denny Sanford Elephant Valley exhibit and three-story lodge at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, Calif.

The project, designed to reflect the rhythms of the African savanna, is a dynamic and immersive habitat giving guests an up-close view of the park’s elephants.

This three-year collaboration with San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance brought to life one of the largest projects in the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s 50-year history. Elephant Valley also marks one of the most significant projects in PBG’s more than 40 years of bringing San Diego-placemaking projects to life.

The new, sprawling savanna landscape continues the park’s legacy of innovative habitat design. As zoos across the country have closed elephant exhibits, the Safari Park has increased the space for its eight-elephant herd to roam and interact in a setting closely mirroring their natural environment.

The project, which began in November of 2022, encompassed expansive terrain, water features and enrichment environments that offer park guests enhanced viewing experiences and foster a deeper understanding of elephant behavior. PBG’s work included two active elephant yards, an animal ambassador exhibit, two ponds totaling more than 325,000 gallons of water and a nearly 20,000-sqaure-foot, state-of-the-art hospitality lodge housing a commissary kitchen serving the entire park as well as restaurant and event spaces.

Additionally, the scope of PBG’s work included the completion of bridges, an elevated walkway, performance and gathering areas, deep foundation systems and extensive retaining wall structures – all designed to support Elephant Valley’s habitat functionality and guest experience.

Building a ground-up project within an active park environment demanded a collaborative and safety-focused approach to construction. PBG worked closely with the Safari Park’s internal planning, animal care, architecture and horticulture teams; lead architect HGW Architecture, a boutique architecture and interior design firm creating beautiful and sustainable places; Deneen Powell Atelier, a highly regarded, woman-owned landscape architecture and environmental design firm; as well as a broad network of trade partners to seamlessly integrate construction activities with ongoing park operations.

Throughout every phase of its work, PBG incorporated strict construction sequencing, safety protocols, habitat functionality, public safety, animal welfare and horticultural considerations.

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has long turned to PBG for projects that consider the safety, wellness and experience of animals, plants and people.

In 2018, PBG completed Safari Park’s award-winning, Walkabout Australia, an engaging 3.6-acre exhibit allowing guests to walk among the naturalistic habitats of kangaroos, wallabies, cassowaries and other animals. The locally owned and operated general contractor also built the Denny Sanford Wildlife Explorers Basecamp at the San Diego Zoo. Completed in 2022, the 3.2-acre, immersive space features four distinct habitat zones designed to engage guests of all ages in learning, play and wildlife connection.