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The Education Center is a focal point for students at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium.
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Before & After Site Images of Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium's Robert B. Daugherty Education Center
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The design of the Education Center reflects the Zoo's vision and goals for every learner, including active distractions, playful learning, and nature immersion.
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Transparency and connectivity between the indoors and outdoors are the two main drivers behind the design.
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The design maximizes exposure to nature and animals by featuring connections between indoor and outdoor educational areas through massive windows, outdoor balconies, and open spaces.
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Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium Robert B. Daugherty Education Center combines outdoor exploration with hands-on educational opportunities.
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Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium's Robert B. Daugherty Education Center: In simplest terms, a school within a zoo.
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The Education Center provides a visual connection into neighboring classrooms and informal collaboration spaces.
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Life-size polar bears enhance the user experience by demonstrating the relationship of scale between humans and animals.
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A FEMA-rated storm shelter ensures student safety with respect to the Education Center's location in Tornado Alley.
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Decorative window screens feature 53 species native to Nebraska, offering fun ways to learn about local species while redirecting birds from flying into the glass.
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Transparency and connectivity between the indoors and outdoors are the two main drivers behind the design.
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Flexible furniture supports a variety of learning and teaching styles.
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Students have direct access from this lab to the Zoo grounds, where they observe the animals and participate in procedures and feedings with Zoo professionals.
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Students participate in hands-on exercises with Zoo animals and assist in research projects.
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This technology-rich multipurpose room is able to simulate both daytime and nighttime conditions, and is used for a range of educational activities and night camps.
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The Education Center features classrooms, labs, breakout spaces, huddle rooms, offices, and multipurpose spaces that connect learning with the natural surroundings of the Zoo campus.
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Tom Kessler Photography
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Tom Kessler Photography
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Eric Francis Photography
In a world filled with technology, Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium’s Education Building offers a space for students to connect with the natural world through “adventure education” that enhance their understanding of and relationship with the animals and ecosystems around them. Offering full-time high school, kindergarten, and preschool classes for up to 230 students, the education building exemplifies the zoo’s education mission to enhance the public knowledge in all areas relating to the natural world. Distractions are encouraged, and come not from smart phones, but from the sounds and movements of nearby animals. DLR Group’s design presents a strong indoor/outdoor connection, with panoramic views to the zoo grounds. A large outdoor adventure area offers multiple play centers, each designed to look like a natural habitat where children can observe and mimic different animal actions. Hands-on, interactive learning is facilitated in a multipurpose, high bay laboratory that bridges the pre-K environment with that of grades 11 and 12. The lab is equipped with retractable seating, a look-through feature with views from the building entrance, and electronic shades to darken space for experience simulations. The transparency of the design allows zoo visitors to observe and be inspired by the students.
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium Robert B. Daugherty Education Center
Category
Combined-Level School
Description
Project Location:
Omaha, NE
Architecture Firm
DLR Group
Omaha,Nebraska
http://www.dlrgroup.com/home/
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Photography By:
Tom Kessler Photography
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