Bristol Zoo, Wild Place Project

Bristol Zoological Society needed a future-ready home for its wildlife, relocating Bristol Zoo to a new 55ha site to improve habitats, enhance visitor experience and strengthen global conservation work.

We were appointed as project managers to deliver the phased masterplan from RIBA Stage 3 onwards.

Expert planning and project management

Our team set up a clear programme, sequenced the works and shaped a procurement strategy that supported smooth delivery.

We introduced simple change control and focused value engineering, helping the client target a 15% cost saving. Close collaboration with staff and conservation specialists kept animal welfare, visitor needs and environmental protection at the centre of every decision.

Phase 1 focuses on the Central African Forest habitat, home to critically endangered gorillas, mangabeys, crocodiles and other species. We managed ecological considerations such as relocating native badgers and designing enclosures that prevent agile species from escaping. Each habitat detail – from quiet spaces for animals to structures strong enough for gorillas – was planned with care.

A world-class conservation zoo takes shape

Phase 1 is under way and due to open in summer 2025. The Bristol Zoo Project is progressing as a leading conservation-focused zoo. Our strategic management continues to support the masterplan, helping maintain quality, cost control and sustainability across the site.

Inspiring future generations

Once complete, Bristol Zoo Project will welcome more than 800,000 visitors each year, educate 90,000 schoolchildren and students and train 600 conservationists. By creating a zoo shaped around conservation, education and sustainability, we’re helping protect endangered species and inspiring future generations to care for the natural world.