Construction recently began on Safari Lodge, the largest indoor special events facility to be built In Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo.  The 17,000-square-foot, $4.35 million design-build project is led by Cutler Associates and designed by Elements. 

The new climate-controlled facility, which is part of the Safari Lodge Complex, is designed to accommodate special events, seasonal restaurant operations, and meeting space.  The lodge will have a “great hall” with 11,000 square feet of dining/meeting space that features a ceiling towering more than 23 feet at its highest point.  Al elevated 3,000-square-foot annex offers views of the giraffe and zebra habitats.

When completed, the facility’s exterior features will include balconies, a prominent tower greeting guests as they enter the village, lush landscaping, and pathway lighting for access to nighttime events. The interior design will include a simulated mud and thatched roof and a main dining hall with colorful street bazaar style banners suspended from the ceiling. Additional features include themed street scene painted walls, balconies, staircases and a full service kitchen to support up to 450 guests.  The village is to be completed by late Summer 2008.

"After recently successfully completed the design and construction of the Ituri Forest and South African Penguin exhibits earlier this year, we are looking forward to continuing our relationship with Lowry Park Zoo,” said Rick Lentz, Vice President of Cutler’s Southeast Division. “Cutler Associates is proud to create fun and exciting projects that future zoo-goers will be able to enjoy for many years to come.”