Taronga Zoo required a building with a distinctive identity for this prominent site. The project provided a 300 seat auditorium and foyer reception area, incorporating contemporary leading edge audio visual technology, including a rear projection system, video conferencing facilities, hearing impaired and translation facilities.

Located on the northern edge of the Zoo, the site was a former quarry, extending from the main Zoo entry area, down a hill and well into the Zoo grounds. Occupied by alligators, opportunities for on-site inspections by the design team were limited. Views of Sydney Harbour were envisaged, and the foyer floor level was established through an inspection using an elevated work platform – avoiding disruption to the animals.

The tiered auditorium was designed in harmony with the existing quarry walls to minimise changes to the terrain. The design incorporated access from both inside and outside the Zoo, enabling flexibility in the use of the facility. The Zoo envisaged real life animal access to the auditorium for educational purposes. A unique requirement was to design the back of house access to suit the dimensions of a llama. 

The interior design concept used distinctive colour palettes, creating a sense of place for each of the auditorium and foyer. Forest hues were used in the auditorium, rich greens and earth tones referencing the outdoor natural environment. By contrast, the harbour and night sky inspired the foyer colour palette of intense blue tones. This strategy created a dramatic backdrop for the external animal exhibit, golden lion tamarind monkeys, whose arboreal home aligned with the eye level of people in the foyer.