Loose in the Zoo

palo alto junior museum and zoo | palo alto, California | USA

Accessible Animal Adventure

Nestled in the heart of an urban expanse is a little zoo with a big purpose: to bring science and nature to the hands, knees, eyes, ears and noses of children and their caregivers. The Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo (JMZ), founded in 1934, has grown in size and mission from a neighborhood children’s museum to include an enchanting zoo, providing science education to thousands of under-served elementary school children in outreach programs. In 2020 JMZ underwent a multi-million dollar rebuild, with SH|R leading the redesign of the Zoo.

More about the Project

True to its mission and growth trajectory, Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo underwent a significant rebuild. The compact .3-acre footprint posed no limit to opportunities for play, connection and growth for the young (or young at heart) of all abilities. Guests are now invited to discover habitats that range from the exotic (Meerkat Desert) to closer to home (Raccoon Creek), all within an airy, free-flight aviary.

Woven within and between these habitats are rich layers and features for guests and animal residents to explore. From underground to the treetops, fully ADA accessible burrows, tree cavities, tunnels, a tree house (reached by climbing or with an elevator) and life-sized sculptures invite children to connect with animals where they live in nature. Raccoons busy themselves inside their warren, meerkats cross overhead from one habitat to another, and colorful fish swim in the pool, past the underwater tunnel. As many animals as possible are free-ranging, so both animals and children have free choice to be where they are most comfortable.

Different levels of physical challenge and a multitude of zoo-play or quiet rest opportunities provide an abundance of sensory experiences and ecological richness that set the stage for exceptional, accessible programming.