Oregon Zoo’s Polar Passage, Primate Forest, and Rhino Habitat Glass Engineering

Oregon Zoo’s Polar Passage, Primate Forest, and Rhino Habitat Glass Engineering

JEI Structural Engineering & Drafting Overview

The Challenge

The Oregon Zoo launched its Polar Passage, Primate Forest, and Rhino Habitat (PPR) expansion to create immersive visitor experiences while ensuring the safety of guests, staff, and animals. Each habitat presented unique glazing challenges:

• Polar Passage: Massive underwater and above-grade glass panels exposed to hydrostatic pressure, ice loads, and animal impacts from polar bears.

• Primate Forest: Exhibits with close viewing required protection against dynamic impacts, climbing, and projectile throwing common in primate behavior.

• Rhino Habitat: Glass panels and barriers needed to withstand high-force impacts from one of the heaviest land mammals.

Traditional façade codes did not cover these extreme, unpredictable conditions. The zoo required a glazing design that balanced clarity for guests with uncompromising structural safety.

Our Engineering Solution

JEI Structural partnered with architects, contractors, and animal care experts to develop customized glazing systems for each habitat:

• Polar Passage

  • Engineered multi-ply laminated glass panels up to 2” thick to resist hydrostatic and seismic hydrodynamic loads.

  • Designed frames with stainless steel perimeter conditions for submerged applications.

  • Added thermal and interlayer durability analysis for year-round outdoor performance.

• Primate Forest

  • Recommended glass vs. acrylic trade-offs, considering clarity, scratch resistance, and animal behavior.

  • Specified laminated tempered glass with SentryGlas interlayers to resist impacts and thrown objects.

  • Engineered edge supports and sealant protection to prevent tampering from curious primates.

• Rhino Habitat

  • Designed for extreme point loads and dynamic impact forces.

  • Developed multi-layer safety glazing systems that meet or exceed ASTM and GANA recommendations.

  • Provided drafting and shop drawings to ensure constructibility during installation.

The Results

• Visitors experience clear, close-up views of polar bears, primates, and rhinos without barriers that distract from the habitat.

• The glazing systems provide confidence in long-term safety and performance, even under extreme animal interactions.

• Oregon Zoo established itself as a leader in innovative, immersive exhibit design, with glazing solutions that will serve as a model for other zoos nationwide.

Key Takeaways

• One size does not fit all: glazing design must adapt to species behavior, size, and enclosure type.

• Impact resistance is not static: engineers must calculate for speed, weight, projectiles, and environmental loads.

• Partnership is essential: working with zookeepers, architects, and builders ensures both safety and visitor experience

Project Location: Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon Zoo