When you design a home for an animal, you have to please five clients — the animal, the zookeepers, the visitors to the zoo, the donors, and government officials. First, the animals should be housed in a comfortable environment that works for both the animal and zookeeper. Animals must be able to roam in as natural a setting as possible. They usually spend a good deal of time outdoors. Their enclosures have to be easy to operate — meaning doors should open and close without any fuss for the animal, and the zookeeper must be able to get to the animal in order to feed and care for it.

Visitors to the zoo want to see the animals in natural settings. They also want to be able to see the animal without any obstructed views. Donors, who have become extremely important to zoos and wildlife centers over the last decade, get more of a say in the design process. Some landscape architects are designing behind-the-scenes viewing areas just for major donors.

Then there are government officials. “Building a zoo or habitat for an animal is very different from building a warehouse or zoo gift shop,” says Nevin Lash, ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architecture) and principal at Ursa International, a design and planning firm that specializes in zoological projects. “There aren't codes written for designing animal habitats. When working with government officials we have to explain and show them why a door has to swing a certain way. It has to be easy for the animal to operate. We don't want a frustrated animal that can't get into his shelter because of a faulty door.”

Lash's company has designed habitats for many zoos including Zoo Atlanta, Chimp Haven, Roger Williams Park Zoo in Rhode Island, Zoo New England, Dallas Zoo, North Carolina Zoo, Cape May County Zoo in New Jersey, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International in Africa, Cochrane Polar Bear Conservation Center in Ontario, and Jamaica's Hope Zoo. Lash has 30 years of experience as a landscape architect. When students ask him about zoo design, he tells them “First work as a landscape architect.”

Lash followed his own advice, working as a landscape architect for ten years designing gardens for homeowners, office parks, and shopping malls. “I got bored silly after a while,” he says. “A friend told me about a firm in Philadelphia that specialized in designing zoos. That was in 1986 when zoo design consisted of creating lushly illustrated drawings.”

He applied and got the job. What he loved was that the atmosphere was casual. “My boss wore sandals and shorts to work in the summer,” he says. “I didn't have to starch my shirts any more.”

What he learned on the job was that the zookeepers, biologists, and zoo directors were the experts. He fully understood architect-speak — the language of his trade. However, designing a home for a client who doesn't speak can be a challenge. “It's a lot like designing a kitchen or an outdoor park,” he explains. “Your clients know what they want. You have to work with them to make it possible.”

For example, zoo habitats can be lush and beautiful on the exterior. The shelter part of the exhibit that the public doesn't see is a different story. “Most of the floors are concrete,” he says. “They have to be easy to clean. However, we put down a lot of hay and soft areas for the animals. We also design spaces with skylights. We have to make the interior as comfortable as possible, and easy to get in and out of. Some interiors have pools and others have ropes for swinging and climbing on. Both interiors and exteriors have to be extremely sturdy so the animal doesn't destroy it. There is a lot to take into consideration.”

Zoo designers need a four-year degree in landscape architecture from an accredited college, plus five years of training as an apprentice with a licensed landscape architect. Then they take a state exam to become a licensed landscape architect. Every state does its own licensing. If you want to work in a particular state, you need a license in that state. Lash is registered in three states — Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Texas. It is also possible to work in other states by collaborating with landscape architects who are licensed in those states.

Lash has seen the industry change and grow over the last two decades. About 20 years ago, there were just a handful of landscape architectural firms that designed zoos. Today, there are 20. He works with his wife, Gail Y.B. Lash, PhD, co-owner of Ursa International. She has a degree in biology and has worked as a biologist, which gives them an edge.

“What I love about this job is that I get to learn about animals and their habitats,” Lash says. “Designing zoo habitats is a great field that's very fulfilling. Every job is different and challenging. Plus, it's high on the moral scales from my point of view. Once you get involved with an organization like a zoo, you meet dedicated, caring people with huge hearts.”