A monolithic tabular iceberg rises inside the Detroit Zoo, sparkling brightly in the sun. Although not literally made of ice, the exterior of the Polk Penguin Conservation Center resembles the look of an Antarctic iceberg. The center is designed to not only house penguins, but also reflect their natural habitat, drawing inspiration from Antarctica’s icy landscape. Set to open in April 2016, the state-of-the-art facility is the largest of its kind in the world and houses 83 of the aquatic birds.
Home to more than 2,400 animals of 255 species, the 125-acre Detroit Zoo is one of the premier animal caretaking sites in the country. Adding on to the impressive campus was not an easy undertaking for architects from Albert Kahn Associates. Accounting for more than 326,000 gallons of water and 33,000 square-feet of space, designing the interior of the center was only half their battle. When it came to the building’s exterior, developers had even grander plans in store.