Chester Zoo
- Location
- Upton by Chester, UK
- Client
- The North of England Zoological Society t/a Chester Zoo
- Expertise
- Acoustics
- Design Management
- Lighting
- Sustainability
- Completion
- 2025
Our civil, structural and environmental engineering teams played a key role in delivering Heart of Africa—Chester Zoo’s most ambitious development to date. Spanning 22.5 acres, the completed multi-million-pound grasslands project brought together 57 African species in an immersive, world-class zoological environment.
The engineering scope included the design of robust, species-specific animal enclosures—from steel-framed giraffe shelters to secure warthog barns and carefully ventilated flamingo houses—each seamlessly integrated into the naturalistic landscape. Traditional timber techniques were combined with precise structural detailing to create immersive viewing hides and galleries that prioritised both animal welfare and visitor experience.
“From the outset, this project challenged us to push the boundaries of what building services engineering can achieve in a zoological context. The environmental needs of the animals, the comfort of visitors and staff, and the wider sustainability goals of the zoo had to be carefully balanced at every stage. We’ve integrated systems that are intelligent, discreet and adaptable, ensuring each habitat functions as naturally and efficiently as possible, while keeping future maintenance straightforward and cost-effective. This is engineering with a purpose.”
Our environmental team designed sustainable MEP systems across the site, including low-energy heating, efficient water management, and adaptive ventilation suited to the variety of habitats. The wider engineering works involved extensive ground remodelling, habitat creation, and infrastructure to enhance biodiversity.
The project showcased our collaborative, multidisciplinary approach, working closely with architects and consultants to bring Chester Zoo’s conservation-led vision to life through thoughtful, resilient engineering.
“Designing habitats for threatened species is a unique challenge as the requirements differ for every species. We have to consider their biological needs, such as group sizes and social structures, and their behavioural needs, such as their breeding strategies, the ways that they forage and the ways they move around. We need outdoor habitats, indoor habitats, breeding facilities and dens, retreat areas, weighing facilities, the list goes on. Then there’s the visitor-focussed side of the design, where our aim is to connect visitors to nature by immersing them within these habitats and taking them on journey of exploration. Heart of Africa is the most complex habitat we’ve ever created, and we can’t wait to invite visitors into this extraordinary new space.”
Further Reading
BDP delivers multidisciplinary engineering expertise for Chester Zoo’s landmark Heart of Africa project
An innovative reimagining of the African savannah has come to life in the heart of Cheshire, as Chester Zoo unveils its largest ever development