Auckland Zoo’s South East Asia Jungle Track is proof to the power of innovation, collaboration, and a deep commitment to conservation.
This multi-award-winning project, the largest in the zoo’s 100-year history, has transformed its heart into a vibrant, immersive experience that brings visitors face-to-face with some of the planet’s most extraordinary and threatened wildlife.
Garyth Jones, project manager at NZ Strong Construction, the contractors behind the SEAJT, shared insights into the journey of bringing this ambitious project to life. The project was one of two nominated by NZ Strong Group for the 2023 Commercial Project Awards, where it was honoured as the Special Project winner.
“It’s a real honour and privilege,” Garyth says.
“These industry body awards recognise the highest standards in the industry, and it’s a great stamp on our CV to show that our work has been recognised at that level.”
The journey to create the SEAJT was not without its challenges. The project, a $62 million endeavour located in the centre of Auckland Zoo, had a multitude of complexities to navigate. The zoo had a clear vision for the project, but turning that vision into a buildable design required a significant amount of planning and coordination.
“One of the key project outcomes was no reduced visitor numbers during the project. So, we had to come up with a delivery plan and a sequencing plan that would allow us to build the project without disrupting the zoo’s operations,” says Garyth.
The project also faced unique challenges in sourcing and importing the specialist materials required to create the habitats for the animals. The design and construction process had to be somewhat coinciding to meet the project’s tight timeline.
Despite these challenges, the project team was able to adapt and innovate. When the original plan to deliver the whole project in one go proved unachievable, the project was divided into eight separate portions, which were then combined into two major phases.
The first phase included the Orangutan and Siamang Gibbon habitats and the second phase included the Tiger habitats and the unique Swamp Forest enclosure. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic causing a temporary shutdown of the country in early 2020, the team was able to eventually complete the project.
With the Zoo’s commitment to eco-tourism and conservation, Auckland Zoo head of brand experience and business development Jooles Clements says SEAJT is part of the zoo’s mission to bring people together to build a future for wildlife.
“The South East Asia Jungle Track, already a multi award-winner and the biggest ever development in our 100-year history, is a highly innovative, world-leading immersive experience that features some of our planet’s most extraordinary and threatened wildlife,” says Jooles.
