The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium broke ground on its state-of-the-art Giraffe Care Center on Tuesday, February 10, at 11:00 a.m. This new $18 million facility will provide enhanced year-round care, new experiences for guest engagement, and expanded conservation opportunities for our tallest residents, with an anticipated opening in spring 2027.

The Center is designed in accordance with the latest advancements in animal well-being standards. The expanded space and enhanced design will position the Zoo to establish a giraffe breeding program, contributing to the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan. “The new Care Center will be over ten times larger than the existing barn and will allow the Zoo to care for up to six giraffes, supporting natural social dynamics,” says Pittsburgh Zoo President & CEO Dr. Jeremy Goodman.

Located near the Zoo’s elephant barn, the Giraffe Care Center provides a large dayroom and off-season viewing of these towering creatures. Its flooring will feature a natural substrate that is easier on the joints. An expanded giraffe yard with a direct connection to the new facility will streamline shifting procedures and allow for a longer outdoor season. The current water barrier in the giraffe habitat will be filled in and graded, doubling the current usable space. The building will also allow for the expansion of the Zoo’s African animal residents with the introduction of additional species in the future.

This project represents a collaborative effort among the Zoo’s Living Collections, Education, Creative Services, and Facilities teams, along with expert designers and contractors, to ensure excellence in animal care, operational efficiency, and guest experience. For the construction, the Zoo is partnering with Rycon Construction, WDM Architects, and LGA Partners. “Animal well-being is central to everything we do,” says Goodman. “Healthy, thriving animals serve as powerful ambassadors for their species, helping visitors form meaningful connections that drive conservation action.”

The Giraffe Care Center will provide giraffes with the space and resources they need to thrive while offering guests a more authentic, year-round experience that connects them to wild conservation efforts in Uganda, the Congo Basin, and beyond.  Elevated enrichment and feeding opportunities in the new complex, with food placed up to 18 feet above the ground, will allow the observation of natural foraging behaviors. Interactive educational elements will deepen guests’ understanding of giraffe behavior, conservation challenges, and how individual actions can help protect wildlife.

Giraffes are an iconic, charismatic keystone species that serve as an important indicator of ecosystem health in their native habitat. The Pittsburgh Zoo’s male Masai giraffe Lewis is one of its most popular residents and a symbol of the urgency of giraffe conservation and the Zoo’s role in protecting wildlife. Despite their popularity, giraffe populations have declined dramatically in the wild, experiencing what conservationists describe as a nearly “silent extinction.” (article continues below ⇓)