Photos and Updates

August 5, 2010: The Walls Are Coming Up

Work on the Toyota Elephant Passage construction site continues at a rapid pace as buildings, pools and other parts of the project take shape.

The filtration building is actually looking more like a building as the concrete foundation rises out of the ground. Complete walls can be seen as the building grows from its foundation of 25 feet below ground, the lowest point on the project.
The rhino-tapir building on the far south side of Toyota Elephant Passage is showing steady progress as framework on the building continues to rise up from the foundation. After framing is done, the walls will start to take shape.

Perhaps the most impressive part of the project to date is Pool A. The largest pool on Toyota Elephant Passage looks like a cool skateboarding park. But you won’t be seeing Tony Hawk or Shaun White turning the pool into a half pipe. Instead, when Toyota Elephant Passage opens in 2012, Pool A will be filled with water in Chang Pa Wildlife Preserve and elephants, rhinos and tapirs will enjoy a cool, wet break on a warm day.

You also may have noticed the pathway on the south side of the Zoo was re-routed to allow Toyota Elephant Passage crews to continue rock work. The temporary path will be in place for about six weeks.

Don’t forget to check out the free construction tower tours (see the scheduled times and dates on the tours on this page).  The tower was opened to visitors last month and allows guests to see construction work and learn more about the Toyota Elephant Passage project. Denver Zoo volunteers will guide visitors up the 36-foot tall tower and discuss features of the project and answer questions.

• See the latest construction update.