St. Louis, MO, USA — PGAV Destinations celebrates a landmark occasion this fall, having completed $316 million in design work for zoos and aquariums around the world from 2010 to 2012. The 1/3 of $1 billion in successful product openings has been recognized just as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums holds its annual conference this year in Phoenix, AZ September 8-13, 2012.
For nearly 50 years, PGAV Destinations has been designing products and piloting master plans for destinations in more than 30 states and on five continents, from elephant to penguin habitats. But throughout the course of the last two years, the firm has aggressively met the increase in demand for newer, better, more fun and exciting experiences for visitors to learn and play.
“We’re at the forefront of another destination revolution,” says Jim Moorkamp, Principal at PGAV Destinations. “Guests at zoos and aquariums aren’t just demanding new animals – they also want to see their favorite animals in new ways, to connect with their passions in fresh and innovative experiences.” Much of this desire is unearthed through extensive consumer and destination research conducted by the firm, and leveraged through learning opportunities from its diverse portfolio of experiences in various destination categories.
“After nearly 50 years in the industry, we’ve helped lead many of the innovation leaps as people’s desire to interact with animals has evolved,” says Al Cross, Vice President at PGAV Destinations. “As we’ll be talking about at the upcoming AZA Conference, PGAV was a part of the transformation from simple blue pools of fish to environments mimicking their indigenous habitats; when those habitats were upgraded to experiences where visitors can safely touch various animals; and most recently in the evolution of those interactions into experiences where guests truly get into the mind of the animal and can experience an emotional connection through story-telling.”
PGAV Destinations’ zoo and aquarium openings over the course of the last two years include Glacier Run at the Louisville Zoo, The Grand Reef expansion at Discovery Cove, Sea Lion Sound at the St. Louis Zoo, and many others. Numerous additional projects are currently in process, looking to grow the company’s resume of cutting edge design and animal husbandry in the near years to come.
If attending AZA 2012, reach out to PGAV Destinations’ Zoo and Aquarium project managers, John Kemper and Emily Howard.
About PGAV Destinations
PGAV Destinations is a global leader in the planning and design of unique destinations. Now in its fifth decade, the practice has evolved to become the ideal destination-consulting partner, skilled at developing growth-oriented master plans and translating those plans into successful projects. No other firm offers such an integrated approach to destination planning.
PGAV’s key clients include industry leaders such as Delaware North Companies, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, the Biltmore Companies, Bass Pro Shops, Ameristar Casinos, Universal Studios, The Gettysburg Foundation, The National Aviary, and many others. Recent assignments include planning and design at many of the world’s “must see” destinations, including the Grand Canyon, Biltmore Estate, Kennedy Space Center, Hearst Castle, the Georgia Aquarium, the Hoover Dam, and SeaWorld Adventure Parks. www.PGAVDestinations.com
