Topeka Zoological Park Elephant Habitat
Ten feet tall.
Eight tons.
Too big for tube socks.
Constructing a habitat for the largest of all land mammals carries with it some unique challenges. Their size and strength must be considered in the design, material selection and construction methods used. Also to be considered—their cold feet.
The giant cupped feet of an elephant are designed to feel vibrations in the ground, informing the elephants of the presence of other animals. When removed from the heat of their natural environment, this sensitivity leaves their feet vulnerable to cold temperatures.
With a trunk strong enough to rip a small tree from the ground, the use of wall or ceiling-mounted space heaters would have required a costly re-designed roof to overcome the elephant’s 20-foot reach.
To accommodate these strong, yet sensitive occupants, KBS suggested a hydroponic heat system that heats the room by turning the concrete floor into a warm thermal mass, rather than heating the air above. Plastic pipes carrying heated water were embeddedbeneath the concrete floors. The result is both a warm floor, and radiant heat for the entire room. The simple boiler system required to heat and distribute the water made it an inexpensive solution to a unique need.
Finding insightful solutions for our clients’ unique needs, while keeping their budget in sight, is just one of the ways KBS Constructors has become the industry leader in Critical Environment Construction™.
