News
“Heart of the Zoo” Project at Minnesota Zoo Featured in American City & County Magazine
January 10, 2012
In the December 2011 issue, American City & County Magazine features the completion of the first phase of the “Heart of the Zoo” project at the Minnesota Zoological Gardens in Apple Valley, Minnesota. As the…
Award-Winning Portico Projects Featured in ENR California Magazine
December 22, 2011
On December 12, Portico President and CEO Mike Hamm represented the firm at the Best Projects 2011 California Awards Breakfast, hosted by Engineering News-Record and McGraw-Hill Construction. Two Portico projects were honored at this year’s…
Portico’s “Gingerbread House” Wins Award
December 16, 2011
Gingerbread TreeHouse created by a group of Portico employees won the Best Use of Materials Award as part of KidsQuest Children’s Museum’s Gingerbread Lane 2011. The treehouse made it to its destination in one piece,…
Hailey Rodeo Park featured in Idaho Mountain Express
December 02, 2011
Alissa Rupp, Principal, was in Hailey, Idaho last week presenting conceptual design plans for an upcoming exhibit that will be part of the Hailey Rodeo Ground Interpretive Center. The exhibit space will be dedicated to…
Pearl Harbor Memorial Museum & Visitor Center Wins 2011 ENR California Best Projects Award
November 16, 2011
Pearl Harbor Memorial Museum & Visitor Center in Honolulu, Hawaii has received the 2011 Best Projects Award in the Best Cultural Project category from ENR California. This annual award program is dedicated to honoring the…
New “Heart of the Zoo” at Minnesota Zoo Receives AIA Minnesota Honor Award
November 14, 2011
As part of the first phase of the “Heart of the Zoo” project at the Minnesota Zoological Gardens in Apple Valley, Minnesota, Portico provided landscape architecture, interpretive planning, and exhibit design services for the Penguins…
Portico’s Entry Board on Display at the University of Washington
October 26, 2011
Portico is participating in the University of Washington Department of Landscape Architecture’s first annual professional design exhibition. Our board, featuring the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, is on view with many other local firms’ work through…
Assiniboine Park Conservancy Receives $5 Million Donation
October 26, 2011
Assiniboine Park Zoo received its largest private sector donation of $5 million yesterday to help complete the Journey to Churchill exhibit. The donation was given to the Park by the Richardson Foundation, which is known…
New Photos of the 3M Penguins of the African Coast exhibit at Minnesota Zoo
October 03, 2011
The 3M Penguins of the African Coast exhibit at Minnesota Zoo has been open for almost three months! Home to 18 black-footed penguins, this exhibit is part of the first phase of Heart of the…
Portico Featured in Fresno Business Journal
September 26, 2011
The Portico Group’s work on the exhibit design for the Sea Lion Cove at Fresno Chaffee Zoo was featured in the September 23rd issue of the Fresno Business Journal. The key concept of this new…
Portico Welcomes New Hires
August 31, 2011
We’re thrilled to welcome several new employees to Portico! They include: Michelle Wahl, Landscape Architect; Eugen Kucej, Architectural Designer; Renee Freier, Registered Landscape Architect; Dean DeShetler, Exhibit Designer; Thomas Deering, Registered Architect; and Brandon Moggio,…
KidsQuest Children’s Museum Wins Three Golden Teddy Awards
August 25, 2011
KidsQuest Children’s Museum in Bellevue, Washington is the recipient of three 2011 Parentmap Golden Teddy Awards, including Best Kid-Friendly Museum, Best Birthday Party Venue, and Best Story Times. The Golden Teddy Awards recognizes the best…
Sand in the City to Help Benefit Hands On Children’s Museum
August 22, 2011
This weekend, 240 tons of sand will be spread across the Port of Olympia Plaza, setting the stage for this year’s Sand in the City. The three-day family event will feature over 40 hands-on activities…
Minnesota Zoo Celebrates Opening of New Penguin Exhibit
August 15, 2011
The new 3M Penguins of the African Coast exhibit officially opened to the public on July 9th. Home to 18 penguins, this exhibit is part of the first phase of Heart of the Zoo, which…
New Photos of the Elephants of Asia exhibit at Los Angeles Zoo
August 11, 2011
The Elephants of Asia exhibit at Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens has been officially open for almost eight months! Billy, the 25-year-old male Asian elephant, now inhabits the space with Tina and Jewel, two…
Public gets first look at Hands On Children’s Museum after Key-Exchange Ceremony
August 09, 2011
The City of Olympia ceremonially turned over the keys to the new Hands On Children’s Museum to museum officials yesterday during a key-exchange ceremony. About 50 local officials including Olympia Mayor Doug Mah, and members…
Portico Raises $1,779 for Food Frenzy
July 29, 2011
For the third consecutive year, Portico participated in Food Frenzy, a friendly fund-raising competition between regional professional firms to benefit Food Lifeline. This year, we raised $1,779, collected numerous food items for Food Frenzy, and…
Help Toledo Zoo Name Baby Elephant
June 17, 2011
Toledo Zoo is now taking votes to name the 200-pound African Elephant calf born on Friday, May 22nd. Entries must be received by 11:59 EDT on Monday, June 27th. Click here to vote! Click here…
Pioneer Square Celebrates Launch of Trail to Treasure
June 03, 2011
On Friday May 20th, The Alliance for Pioneer Square in Seattle hosted a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Union Station and the launch of Trail to Treasure. This new recreational and interpretive trail seeks…
Portico Children’s Museum Project in the News
June 03, 2011
Hands On Children’s Museum in Olympia, Washington, slated to open to the public in 2012, was featured in today’s issue of the Oregon Daily Journal of Commerce. As exhibit designers and children’s museum design consultants,…
Environmental Stewardship Took Center Stage at the Annual Portico Advance
June 03, 2011
Portico staff recently spent the workday learning together, interacting outside the office as a larger team, and socializing at Warren G. Magnuson Park for their annual Advance. After a few welcoming words from President Mike…
Portico Team to Design Tree Houses for Children’s Garden
June 02, 2011
The University of Arkansas has selected the team of The Portico Group and Crafton Tull & Associates to provide design services for the Tree Houses for the Children’s Adventure Garden at Garvan Woodland Gardens in…
Portico Welcomes New Hires
June 02, 2011
We’re thrilled to welcome several new employees to Portico! They include: Mike Webber, Chief Financial Officer; Dawna Petelle-Moini, Human Resources Administrator; Gail Duffy, Project Planning Assistant; Jake Dumler, Landscape Architect; Melissa Wheeler, Landscape Designer; John…
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo wins 2011 APWA Silicon Valley Chapter Award
June 02, 2011
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo in San Jose, California has received the 2011 Project of the Year Award in the Environmental category from the American Public Works Association (APWA) Silicon Valley Chapter. Happy Hollow Park…
Pearl Harbor Visitor Center Achieves LEED Gold
May 03, 2011
Portico is happy to announce that the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been awarded LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council. This high-performing facility features various sustainable qualities, such as passive…
Portico featured in Daily Journal of Commerce
April 13, 2011
Portico was recently chosen to provide schematic design services for Knock Knock Children’s Museum. Read the article here.
Portico to Design New Children’s Museum
April 04, 2011
The selection committee for Knock Knock Children?s Museum has chosen Portico to provide schematic design for the new 30,000-square-foot building and 18 to 20 hands-on exhibits to be located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Click here…
Portico Announces Promotions and Welcomes New Staff Additions
January 21, 2011
Portico has promoted Richard Larson and Megan Nielsen Hegstad from Senior Associate to Associate Principal, and Bronwen Carpenter, and Wing Fong from Associate to Senior Associate. We are also pleased to announce that several new…
Portico’s “Gingerbread House” Wins People’s Choice Award
December 15, 2010
Polar Ice Camp, a gingerbread creation made by a group of Portico employees, won the People's Choice Award as part of KidsQuest Gingerbread Lane 2010. All building materials were edible, even the frozen lake. The…
Pearl Harbor Visitor Center Grand Opening Today
December 07, 2010
Portico is thrilled to announce the public opening of the new Pearl Harbor Visitor Center today, Pearl Harbor Day, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Survivors of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor will lead the…
Pearl Harbor Visitor Center Makes Front Page News
November 29, 2010
The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, which is set to open December 7th, Pearl Harbor Day, was featured in today?s issue of the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce. The Portico Group has been the lead designer…
Billy the Elephant Moves into New Home Designed by Portico
November 10, 2010
Portico’s work on the Elephants of Asia exhibit was featured in the L.A. Times recently when Billy, a 25-year-old Asian elephant was moved into his renovated enclosure at the Los Angeles Zoo. Project Manager Bronwen…
Alliance for Pioneer Square Selects Portico for Trail to Treasure Project
November 09, 2010
Portico was selected to provide planning and design services for the master plan development phase of Trail to Treasure, a historic, interpretive trail project in Pioneer Square. Click here to learn more about The Alliance…
Portico to Design New Penguin Exhibit
October 01, 2010
Kansas City Zoo has chosen Portico, along with Kansas City-based architects Bowman Bowman Novick, to design a brand new penguin indoor and outdoor exhibit complex.
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo is Runner-Up Finalist
October 01, 2010
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo in San Jose, California was a runner-up finalist for the Green Public Project of the Year Award, given out annually by San Jose Business Journal. Read more.
The Philadelphia Zoo McNeil Avian Center wins 2010 AZA Award for Significant Achievement
October 01, 2010
Portico is proud to announce that McNeil Avian Center at the Philadelphia Zoo has received the 2010 Significant Achievement Award in Exhibit Design from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
North American Design Magazine Features Happy Hollow
August 03, 2010
California Amusement Park First to Earn LEED Gold Certification, by Kathryn Jones
Portico Welcomes New Hires
August 03, 2010
Portico is pleased to announce that several new employees have joined the firm in the past six months. They include: Jason Hill, architectural designer; Lindsey Heller, landscape architect; Julia Hanuliakova, architectural designer; Leigh Tucker, marketing…
Food Frenzy Results
August 03, 2010
With your help, Portico raised over $1,300 and collected numerous food items for Food Frenzy, a friendly fund-raising competition between regional professional firms to benefit Food Lifeline. Portico raised funds in several ways this year,…
Portico President Mike Hamm Selected for Induction to ASLA Council of Fellows
July 30, 2010
Mike Hamm, President and CEO, is one of 41 ASLA members selected for 2010 induction into the association’s distinguished Council of Fellows. Fellowship is among the highest ASLA honors and recognizes Hamm’s significant contributions to…
Descanso Gardens Makes Front Page of New York Times
July 30, 2010
In 2009, The Portico Group completed a master plan for Descanso Gardens, a botanical garden located in Southern California. On Tuesday, July 27, the garden was featured on the front page of The New York…
Minnesota Zoo Breaks Ground on “Heart of the Zoo” Plan
July 01, 2010
On Monday, June 21st, the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley broke ground on the $20 million first phase of the “Heart of the Zoo” strategic plan, one of Portico’s current projects. Read more about this…
Portico Teams up with Local A/E Firms to Feed Hungry Children
June 30, 2010
For the second consecutive year, Portico is participating in Food Frenzy, a friendly fund-raising competition between regional professional firms to benefit Food Lifeline. Aiming to end hunger for children in Western Washington, Food Frenzy takes…
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo Achieves LEED® Gold
June 22, 2010
Portico is thrilled to announce that Happy Hollow Park and Zoo in San Jose, California has been awarded LEED® Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building…
Portico Announces the Acquisition of Design Visualization Specialists, Primedia Group
June 17, 2010
Dean Alker and Joseph Ferry, formerly co-owners of Primedia Group LLC, have joined Portico as senior-level design visualization specialists. They bring to the firm an in-house ability to provide 3D visualization services and technology for…
Portico’s Work at Descanso Gardens Featured in L.A. Times Article, May 21
May 24, 2010
Read the article here. In 2009, The Portico Group completed a master plan for Descanso, a botanical garden located in Southern California.
Philadelphia Zoo’s McNeil Avian Center Receives 2010 Thea Award
April 15, 2010
As lead exhibit and habitat designers for the McNeil Avian Center at the Philadelphia Zoo, Portico is honored to be on the project team receiving a 2010 Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement. The prestigious Thea…
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo Reopens March 2010
March 01, 2010
After nine years of planning and design, Portico is thrilled to announce the reopening of the newly renovated, $72 million Happy Hollow Park and Zoo in San Jose, California. The integrated park and zoo facility…
Minnesota Zoo
September 21, 2009
Portico is proud to have played a key part in this award-winning project. Congratulations to the Minnesota Zoo for top honors in the exhibit design and marketing excellence categories.
Portico Celebrates the Opening of Philadelphia Zoo’s McNeil Avian Center
July 14, 2009
The new McNeil Avian Center takes visitors around the world from the African Savanna to a Central American Coffee Plantation, culminating in an object theater exploration of bird migration - the overarching theme of the…
Alissa Rupp Welcomed as Newest Portico Principal
July 14, 2009
Alissa Rupp, AIA, LEED AP, has been promoted to Principal of The Portico Group. Having been with the firm for 11 years, Alissa?s recent work includes project oversight for the replacement of the USS Arizona…
Minnesota Zoo Enjoys Increased Attendance
July 14, 2009
Due in part to the recent opening of Russia’s Grizzly Coast and renovated Central Plaza, the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley has seen attendance increase 16% in the last year. Minnesota Zoo Enjoys Increased Attendance,…
Kent Town Square Plaza Receives Concrete Award
July 14, 2009
Washington Aggregates and Concrete Association awarded Kent Town Square Plaza, designed by Portico, an Excellence in Concrete Award.
Busch Garden’s Jungala wins THEA Award
April 22, 2009
Designed by The Portico Group, Jungala features two of the world’s most endangered species - tigers and orangutans.
Kent Town Square Plaza Receives Award
April 16, 2009
The Washington Recreation & Parks Association selected Kent Town Square Plaza as Best Park - Class I.
Washington State University
March 13, 2009
Washington State University has selected The Portico Group, with Miller|Hull, to develop a master plan for a new 95-acre arboretum and wildlife research center.
Groundbreaking celebrated at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center
March 13, 2009
Groundbreaking was recently celebrated at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Portico provided comprehensive design services for the replacement facility, designed to achieve LEED® Silver certification.