Zoo InternQuest is a career exploration program for high school students. For more information see the Zoo InternQuest Journals. For more photos see the Zoo InternQuest Photo Journal.

Seventeen years ago, Steve Fobes found himself at a crossroads. He was looking for a change of pace from the commercial architectural projects he was designing. Soon after, Mr. Fobes found an ad in the newspaper for an architect position at the San Diego Zoo and hastily applied. Since that time, Mr. Fobes has been designing bedrooms for bonobos instead of conference rooms for CEOs.

His influence in designing world-famous exhibits can be seen at both the Zoo and the Wild Animal Park. Mr. Fobes was on the design team for both the Heart of Africa and Condor Ridge, major highlights of the Park. Currently, the graduate of California State Polytechnic University at Pomona is focusing his attention on the $45 million Elephant Odyssey Exhibit.

But how would he know how to design an exhibit with his background in commercial buildings? “Working with Zoo staff is similar to working with any client. Both have specific needs and knowledge of what is required,” says Mr. Fobes. Keepers inform Mr. Fobes of requirements for the health of the animals and work area requirements for the health and safety of the keepers. For this exhibit, the steepness of the terrain is the biggest factor. The seven-acre exhibit will feature gradual topographical grade changes to make a nice gentle slope for the animals and a visually interesting landscape for the Zoo visitors. Also, there is little hard ground surfaces such as concrete because the elephants don’t like to lie down on hard ground.

From the design aspect, “looking as natural as possible,” Mr. Fobes noted “is most crucial.” With all his projects he hopes to capture the feel of the animal’s native environment. For this project, the landscape architects are looking to incorporate native California plants, since the project includes a look at large animals, like the mammoth, that used to inhabit Southern California. They will also include several artificial trees to provide shade for the elephants. They use artificial trees because elephants tend to eat the real ones. Mr. Fobes’s office has massive blueprints laid across tables as well as a 3-D model of the Elephant Odyssey Exhibit. The model allows keepers, animal care managers, operations managers, and facilities maintenance people who will be impacted by the final outcome of the project to better communicate their needs up front before the project is too far along.

Few zoos have in-house architecture and planning departments, and this is such a specialized field, it’s not really easy to find a “zoo architect” job. There are several independent firms that focus on the creation of exhibits.

The Elephant Odyssey is scheduled to be completed in spring 2009. Until then, Mr. Fobes and his team will continue to fuse animal needs with functional design. Curious visitors can see the site’s development by taking a ride on the Zoo’s Skyfari.

Lindsay, Careers Team

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