OPENED: May 2008
ARCHITECT: John Armknecht of Stanley J. How Architects
CONTRACTOR: Kiewit Construction
The Berniece Grewcock Butterfly and Insect Pavilion is a 14,000 square foot total immersion exhibit located between the Scott Aquarium and the Giraffe Complex. From the sky, the exhibit resembles a winged insect.
Butterfly Conservatory
This 2,450 square foot area features 10 foot high glass sidewalls allowing the maximum amount of light inside the exhibit. This natural light and large trees, rocks and water elements are all critical components needed to simulate a natural habitat and important to stimulate natural butterfly behaviors.
Conservation Promenade
Located in the Butterfly Conservatory, the promenade winds past numerous waterfalls and over streams, through lush vegetation and loops around the giant Amazon water lily pool. The pool features a stilt root tree supporting a floating walkway for visitors to travel through the roots and get an up-close view of the giant South American water lilies. Many species of exquisite butterflies and moths including the beautiful Blue Morpho, Zebra Longwing, and Painted Ladies fly among visitors. Micro-habitats are displayed along the Conservation Promenade featuring many endangered amphibians the Zoo is currently working with in response to the global amphibian crisis. Upon leaving this area, visitors enter a mirrored room to carefully check for hitch-hiking butterflies before exiting.
Chrysalis Hatching Room
A 220 square foot area where butterflies and moths in their chrysalis or cocoon stage are brought in from all over the world. Once inside, they are carefully attached to boards to where visitors can watch them complete their metamorphosis into breathtaking flying insects. The 510 square foot entry hallway leading into the insect wing contains displays, such as a locust colony and bee hive, along with interactive learning opportunities.
Insect Zoo
This 2,413 square foot area has a smaller 5 foot high glass sidewall on top of a 7 foot solid wall to allow more intensive exhibit work. Individual micro-habitats are home to ants, spiders, scorpions, walking sticks, mantids, centipedes, roaches, beetles and a host of other amazing creatures. In the center of this experience, two bird cages house more exotic species such as tropical hummingbirds and mini-toucanets.
Lower Level
Features two rooms, approximately 1,085 square foot total, used for rearing butterflies and culturing insect colonies. A 542 square foot room will be used to maintain plants that are being rotated through the butterfly display. A frog breeding and rearing facility occupying 1,161 square foot of space, houses the most threatened amphibians. The rooms are viewable from the Giraffe Observation Walk that circles the building and allowing Zoo visitors a real look at what goes on behind the scenes through windows. This same path has numerous native butterfly gardens offering visitors a wonderful opportunity to be eye to eye and nose to nose with the giraffe herd.