Dallas Zoo South Garage

The Dallas Zoo South Garage is a straightforward structure situated on a challenging site, designed to support the zoo’s mission and enhance its brand. This 580-car, 4.5-level, 170,000 square foot garage is located along Ewing Avenue, bordered by the Dallas Zoo DART Station on Clarendon Drive, the Marsalis Avenue overpass, and a steep, heavily wooded hill.

The site is organized to ensure safe and efficient vehicle operations, maintain access to zoo facilities beyond the Marsalis Avenue overpass, and improve pedestrian connections to the adjacent DART station. As the initial project in an ambitious multiphase master plan developed by CLR and GFF, the garage sets the stage for a reimagined guest arrival experience. By relocating visitor parking to a previously underutilized site, the zoo’s existing parking lots can be transformed into a new entry plaza and ecological esplanade connected to the adjacent I-35 deck park.

The precast concrete structure is wrapped in a combination of custom perforated metal panels and planted vertical trellises, giving the building a playful and dynamic visual presence. The wire trellises support various species of climbing vines, providing seasonal aesthetic variety. The metal panel system celebrates the zoo’s brand identity with distinctive colors and a giraffe pattern super graphic created through varied densities of perforation.

Supporting the zoo’s mission as an ecologically focused institution, the garage incorporates several sustainable design elements. These include rainwater capture for irrigation, drought-tolerant low-maintenance native pollinator plant species, reuse of existing onsite materials, reduced impervious pavement, EV charging stations, and infrastructure for a future photovoltaic array. Additionally, site improvements encourage the use of adjacent public transit, and the straightforward garage layout reduces emissions from vehicle idling.

The result is a compact and unique garage structure that promotes the zoo’s brand and mission while paving the way for future development and enhancing the visitor experience