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: the new, 22.5-acre grasslands habitat, where BDP’s civil, structural and environmental engineering teams have played a vital role in making the ambitious vision a reality.
“Heart of Africa is the largest and most ambitious zoo development ever undertaken in the UK. It stands as a vibrant symbol of our commitment to safeguarding wildlife across Africa, ensuring its future for generations to come.
“Introducing such a diverse range of species into one shared habitat is a first for us. We want visitors to feel fully immersed in the sights and sounds of the African savannah, and what better way to achieve that than by seeing northern giraffe, Grevy's zebra, ostrich, and roan antelope roaming together.. It's truly a breath taking sight.
“This marks a significant new chapter for Chester Zoo. As an international wildlife charity, Heart of Africa will help us connect hundreds of thousands of people with nature, generate jobs and economic growth for the region, and continue our vital conservation work in Africa, long into the future. It’s the most complex habitat we’ve ever created, and we can’t wait to invite visitors into this extraordinary new space.”
The project, now known as Heart of Africa, brings together 57 iconic African species in an immersive, world-class zoological landscape. From vast savannahs with roaming giraffe, zebra and ostrich, to intimate aviaries and underground desert tunnels, the scale and complexity of this project required innovative, resilient and environmentally sensitive engineering solutions from the outset.
BDP’s engineers worked closely with the design team and the zoo’s animal experts and other consultant teams to deliver infrastructure that not only prioritises animal welfare and species-specific behavioural needs, but also blends seamlessly into the landscape. Each animal habitat was designed with unique requirements in mind, from tall steel-framed indoor giraffe habitats to carefully ventilated and heated hoofstock buildings for zebra, antelope, warhog and ostrich. For smaller scale environments such as the flamingo and crane indoor habitats and viewing hides, the team used traditional timber-framed construction techniques, integrating craftsmanship with structural precision.
BDP’s environmental engineering team was also responsible for the design of mechanical, electrical and public health systems across the site, including sustainable water management, low-energy heating systems, specialist lighting, and ventilation strategies adapted to the unique mix of species and building typologies.
“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.”
“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.”
The wider development included extensive ground remodelling, lake installations and habitat creation, designed to enhance biodiversity and resilience across the 22.5-acre site. Working in collaboration with Chester Zoo’s in-house architects, Buttress Architects, Gillespies and Proctor & Matthews Architects, BDP engineers helped bring the masterplan to life with a strong focus on collaboration, technical innovation and conservation.
Heart of Africa is now open to the public and is expected to welcome an additional 200,000 visitors per year, supporting the zoo’s international conservation mission and delivering a lasting economic boost to the wider Cheshire region.
“This isn’t just about building zoo habitats – it’s about engineering environments that support life, education, and conservation on a global scale. From replicating kopje rock formations to creating immersive viewing platforms and sustainable water systems, this project has been an extraordinary journey of collaboration, creativity and purpose. Chester Zoo’s dedication to conservation is nothing short of inspiring, and it’s been our role to make sure the engineering meets the ambition – quietly and intelligently, behind the scenes.”
Further Reading
Chester Zoo
BDP played a key role in delivering Heart of Africa—Chester Zoo’s most ambitious development to date.