Location: 
North Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Total Square Feet: 10,810
Construction Period: Nov 1998 to Mar 2000

Construction Team
General Contractor: Globe Construction Company - PO Box 17420, Oklahoma City, OK 73136
Structural Engineer: Mark Eudaley, Engineers, Inc. - 6656 NW 39th Expressway, #200, Bethany, OK 73008
Electrical & Mechanical Engineer: Darr & Collins, LLC - 3232 W Britton Rd., #150, Oklahoma City, OK 73120
Landscape Architect: Oklahoma City Zoo - 2101 NE 50th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73111
Cost Estimator: Bill Hess - 0108 Pine Hill Rd., Antonito, CO 81120

Until the Canopy was built, the Oklahoma City Zoo had nothing but small hamburger and hot dog stands spread across more than 110 acres of exhibits to serve its visitors. The Canopy is located on the crest of a wooded hill overlooking the Lincoln Park Lake, between the Children's Petting Zoo and the Zoo Educational Building. This recent development, designed around a rain forest theme, provides a unique dining experience for visitors.

Diffused light from the translucent skylight filters down through two artificial banyan trees containing rain forest butterflies, frogs, lizards and birds. Other interior decoration includes rain forest vines and flowers throughout. The trees and plants inside the building complement the lush exotic gardens extending into the existing landscape. Bamboo is also used throughout on the ceilings, counter-fronts, and signage. The dining area floor is patterned concrete with large rain forest leaf imprints stained with a mix of yellow, browns and greens. Gentle rain forest sounds are provided by a background sound system. 

Visitors can enjoy their meals under the watchful eye of iridescent amazon creatures on a Cesar glass mural that separates private and public dining areas which accommodate more than 200 people.

Manufacturers/Suppliers
Exterior Walls - Stucco: United States Gypsum; Entrances & Storefronts: EFCO Corporation; Glass: HGP Industries.
Roof - Standing Seam: AEP-Span; Translucent Skylights: Kalwall.
Floors - Patterned Concrete Stamp: Patterned Concrete Industries.
Interior Walls - Tile: Dal-Tile.