Cincinnati Zoo

I feel like there’s a lot of negativity in our reading and surrounding this idea of participation within the design process. I know that people tend to think of it as a tad idealistic or maybe that architects try and are simply unsuccessful. But I wouldn’t say that it’s a concept we should abandon, and I think it’s something that is already being implemented. The success of it just depends on the efforts and communication between the two parties.

In my undergrad, we did a Living Building Challenge project for an addition with the Cincinnati Zoo. They had recently started to move towards more sustainable measures, but they only received state funding after the community approved of it. Our main point of contact (sorry don’t remember his name) told us this story of how he tried to explain the advantages of the system (water storage) to the community, but literally no one cared or really bothered to listen. Only after he heard their stories of how their homes were regularly flooded, was he able to explain the proposal in a way that actually meant something to them on a personal level. The Zoo’s water storage and overflow system today keeps 13 million gallons of water out of the sewer system and prevents flooding to the homes nearby. After this had taken place, the Cincy Zoo was able to establish a way better relationship with the nearby community by listening to their stories.