As part of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History Renovation, the new Perkins Wildlife Center & Woods Garden is an intimate outdoor experience populated with native plants, animals, and birds and featuring an elevated tree-canopy walkway trail. Osborn Engineering in conjunction with museum Exhibit Designers, structured a complex curved structural steel elevated trail to immerse the public with up-close viewing of the Perkins Wildlife pools and exhibits.

 

The tree-canopy elevated walkway trail consists of an outdoor curved, sloping steel frame with various observation platforms used by visitors to view the animals and their habitat within the exhibit. The complex geometry of the structure in conjunction with the steeply sloped site grades proved a challenge to the design team and contractors throughout the project. The selected site includes a ravine along the northern footprint complicating placement of the elevated trail foundations.

 

In addition to the elevated curved walkway, Osborn Engineering designed the structural elements for a large otter pond in conjunction with European acrylic designers. Design elements also included a vegetated slope, bio-remediation basin, groundwater recharge, as well as animal enclosure mesh supports and full-service mechanical, electrical, and plumbing for each support building and feature. Electrical also provided the necessary infrastructure for an outdoor lightscape along with technology wireless access for a fully integrated visitor smartphone and tablet experience.