PCL has kicked off construction of a conservation centre at the Toronto Zoo.

The new facility, dubbed the Toronto Zoo Community Conservation Centre, will contain a Blanding’s turtle headstarting facility, an event space, gift shop, offices, and a river otter habitat. It will also feature multiple labs and classrooms used by students from U of T Scarborough as well as Toronto Zoo camps, Zoo School and education programs.

The facility is being built to Toronto Green Standard Version 4, in keeping with the zoo’s TZNet0 Environmental Sustainability Plan to become net zero by 2030.

“The Toronto Zoo Community Conservation Centre is an incredible addition for our organization, building on our existing Wildlife Health Centre and reproductive science research with meaningful Canadian species conservation efforts and student/community engagement facilities” says Dolf DeJong, CEO, Toronto Zoo. “This centre also supports our commitment to “two eyed” seeing, bridging conventional conservation science efforts with traditional knowledge.”

News of the groundbreaking comes 50 days ahead of the zoo’s 50th anniversary. Nearly 60 million guests have visited the zoo since it opened in 1974.

“As the Toronto Zoo celebrates 50 years as a local landmark, PCL is excited to participate in its evolution and kick off construction of the new Conservation Centre,” says Myke Badry, vice president and district manager of PCL Constructors Canada Inc. (Toronto). “We are honored to join the Zoo as Guardians of Wild alongside our expert team of consultants and trade partners and are committed to creating a positive experience for the animals and guests with safety at top of mind.”

Toronto Zoo is first in Canada to establish a collaboration wherein a leading university has a physical campus located onsite. When the classrooms are not being used for educational purposes, they will serve as outreach spaces that our broader community can enjoy for meetings, gatherings, events, townhalls and programs.

“University of Toronto Scarborough already has deep ties to the Zoo and a joint facility is one important way to deepen those ties,” says Andrew Arifuzzaman, Chief Administrative Officer, University of Toronto Scarborough. “As neighbours and important anchor institutions in Scarborough, we have a long and proud history of working together. This project really formalizes that partnership while inspiring future generations of conservationists. The emphasis on conservation and sustainability also complements U of T Scarborough’s involvement in EaRTH, a training and innovation hub involving various universities and colleges across the eastern GTA”.

The zoo says that building these education spaces outside the admission gates where they are accessible seven days a week, in the evenings and outside zoo hours is an important aspect of the project. The zoo has more than 1.3 million guests per year who will see the work going on in Scarborough – not just by the zoo but also by a recognized academic partner.