Groundbreaking and Plans Unveiled for the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s New Primate Forest

The Primate Forest, slated to open in 2026, will feature four innovative spaces, including the CrossCountry Mortgage Forest Home and three immersive animal habitats: Tropical Forest, Orangutan Forest, and Gorilla Forest. At DVA Architecture, we’ve been thrilled to design these spaces to connect visitors with the animals like never before. The new Forest Home will welcome guests with an immersive entry, utilizing projection mapping to highlight the intricate relationship between people, animals, and their habitats. Enhanced dining, retail spaces, and flexible conference areas will create a vibrant, interactive hub for education and discovery.

Key features include the expanded Orangutan Forest, which preserves the iconic 40-foot geodesic dome while adding more engaging outdoor spaces and complex climbing structures for the orangutans. An elevated trail will offer visitors a fresh perspective, bringing them closer to the animals and their care. Meanwhile, the renovation of over 63,000 square feet in the Tropical Forest and plans for the future 25,000-square-foot Gorilla Forest will create world-class habitats that foster both animal well-being and guest education.

This $60 million project, funded through philanthropic support and capital funds, represents a bold vision for the future of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. At DVA Architecture, we are proud to be part of this journey, working to create a destination that not only enhances the guest experience but also strengthens the zoo’s commitment to conservation, science, and community engagement.

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