GP Completes Transformative Primate Habitat at Brookfield Zoo Chicago

GP is pleased to celebrate the completion of James & Elizabeth Bramsen Tropical Forests, a landmark three-acre primate habitat at Brookfield Zoo Chicago that sets a new standard for humane, immersive zoo design. Developed in close collaboration with the Zoo and exhibit designer Stantec, the project introduces four outdoor habitats, a two-story, 30,000-square-foot building addition, advanced animal care environments, visitor engagement spaces, and conservation education facilities. The $66 million project is the largest and most ambitious in the Zoo’s history and marks the first phase of a long-term vision for the Zoo’s evolution.

Bramsen Tropical Forests provides guests with an immersive experience across four lush rainforest environments inspired by Africa, Asia and South America with five viewing shelters to encounter western lowland gorillas, Bornean orangutans, white-cheeked gibbons and South American monkeys. The new habitat is located alongside Tropic World, one of the largest indoor habitats in the world when it opened in 1984. The project expands and reinvents the existing Tropic World footprint, creating four dynamic outdoor habitats with mesh, aviary-style enclosures along the north side of the building. The Gorilla Conservation Center is a new addition to the west, providing dedicated space for conservation and education, as well as behind-the-scenes habitats and an additional habitat indoors for guests to learn about gorillas.

“Bramsen Tropical Forests embodies our commitment to designing environments that honor the innate behaviors of the animals while delivering meaningful, contextual experiences for visitors,” said Patrick Loughran, FAIA, PE, LEED AP, principal and project lead at GP. “By thoughtfully integrating advanced habitat engineering with immersive spatial design, we’ve created a space where animals and people can connect in ways that inspire curiosity, learning and respect.” 

A centerpiece of the design is the balance between naturalistic immersion and functional durability: outdoor spaces incorporate terrain diversity, water features and climate-adaptive plantings, while indoor habitats offer flexible settings that support animal care and public viewing. Heated rockwork and concealed environmental systems offer welfare-focused accommodations during outdoor activity, and strategically considered sightlines allow for visitor connection without compromising animal comfort.

Inside the new building addition, the Gorilla Conservation Center features a flexible event space with window views to the indoor and outdoor habitats. An elevated terrace adjacent to the event space offers sightlines to the outdoor habitats. Adjacent—but intentionally separated—is the King Conservation Leadership Academy, a cutting-edge hub for learning and a space for students to engage in educational programs aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship. The new building frames the Zoo’s Formal Pool, and its soft lighting is reflected at night, with expansive views offered from the building’s second-floor pre-function area. 

“The James & Elizabeth Bramsen Tropical Forests represents a bold step forward in how we connect people to wildlife,” said Dr. Mike Adkesson, president and CEO of Brookfield Zoo Chicago. “This extraordinary space not only provides an incredibly dynamic and enriching environment for the animals in our care but also inspires guests to understand and protect some of the most endangered species on the planet. We’re thrilled to welcome our community to experience the wonder and the vital message of conservation that lives at the heart of this new habitat.”

Bramsen Tropical Forests is part of Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s broader Next Century Plan, a long-term vision that will reshape more than 100 acres (nearly half of the Zoo’s existing property) in innovative and inspiring ways for wildlife and guests. The habitat’s completion marks a significant milestone in this plan, underscoring the Zoo’s role as both a cultural destination and a leader in innovative habitat design.

The project opened to the public in July 2025, following close coordination with animal care teams to ensure smooth transitions for both staff and animals. Bramsen Tropical Forests now serves as a model for humane, forward-thinking habitat design—one that aligns architectural excellence with ecological sensitivity and conservation impact. The project continues GP’s long history of working on complex, high-profile institutional assignments for such distinguished clients as Lincoln Park Zoo, Northwestern University, the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, and Adler Planetarium, among others.