March 12, 2012

Portico team members with Zoo Director John Lewis at the opening of the Los Angeles Zoo LAIR exhibit.
The LAIR (Living Amphibians, Invertebrates and Reptiles) exhibit at the Los Angeles Zoo opened to the public on Thursday, March 8. Portico designed the new building complex that is now home to a significant portion of the Zoo’s diverse reptile and amphibian collection and provides for its expansion in a state-of-the-art purpose-built 10,000 square-foot facility. The center features 60 species in 49 exhibits, including the Mexican beaded lizards, Rowley’s palm vipers, radiated tortoises, and the Chinese giant salamander. Read the article in the Los Angeles Times here.
February 17, 2012
Design rendering of exterior exhibit
The Penguin Plunge exhibit at the Calgary Zoo opened to the public on Friday, February 17. Portico designed the new attraction, which features a 9,200-gallon pool outside and a 32,000-gallon pool inside (both freshwater). The exhibit reflects the natural habitat of four distinct penguin species: Humboldt, Gentoo, Rock Hopper, and Kings. Depending on the time of year, the penguins will rotate between the interior and exterior exhibits. The exterior exhibit is part of the new entry plaza and is themed as a coastal environment, while the interior exhibit includes a sky dome that is lit to reflect the Antarctic sky through the seasons. The space is insulated and stays cool year-round to suit the penguins.
January 10, 2012

Photo by Paul Crosby
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 cover story for the magazine’s “Across America” section, this project is the collaborative effort of The Portico Group and HGA Architects of Minneapolis. For this first phase, Portico designed the new 3M Penguins of the African Coast exhibit, located in the 36-year-old zoo’s original theater.
December 22, 2011

Pearl Harbor Memorial Museum & Visitor Center
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 awards ceremony. The Pearl Harbor Memorial Museum & Visitor Center in Honolulu, Hawaii received the award for Best Cultural/Worship Project, and the new Elephants of Asia exhibit at the Los Angeles Zoo was given an award of merit for Best Landscape/Hardscape/Urban Development Project. This annual awards program is dedicated to honoring the best construction projects and the companies that designed and built them. In the December 5th issue of ENR, read the feature on the Pearl Harbor project and the Elephants of Asia exhibit.
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, but unfortunately had some structural difficulties while on display. However the elves were just as happy hanging out on top of the tree as they were inside of the house. Our treehouse and the other entries are still on display at the Hilton Hotel in Bellevue until the 21st! Click here to see more photos of our creation. Click here for more information about the event.
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 preserving and celebrating the history of rodeo in Hailey. It will also promote and highlight the diversity of recreational activities that take place in the center, including the rodeo, ice skating, and skateboarding. You may read the article here.
November 16, 2011

Photos by Linny Morris Photography
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 best construction projects and the companies that designed and built them. This year, projects were submitted from California, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, and Alaska.
Portico provided architectural, landscape architectural and concept exhibit design services for this popular visitor attraction, which opened to the public on December 7, 2010. Our approach to this project was to create a campus of unified small-scale buildings housing the museum and visitor center, with a focus toward the view out to the floating memorial structure, while maintaining the solemnity of the memorial and historic site. Click here to see more photos of the Pearl Harbor Memorial Museum & Visitor Center.
This award-winning project will be featured in the December 5th issue of ENR California. You can see the entire list of winners here.
November 14, 2011

Photography by Paul Crosby
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 of the African Coast exhibit. Portico collaborated with HGA Architects and Engineers of Minneapolis to create a seamless integration of landscape architecture, exhibit design, and architecture. View images of the award-winning project here.
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 this Friday, October 28th in Gould Court at the university. Click here to learn more about this exhibition.
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 for its philanthropic contributions in Winnipeg. Hartley Richardson is chairman of the Assiniboine Park Conservancy board.
The Journey to Churchill exhibit will offer world-class programming related to arctic education, research, and conservation, and will include an International Polar Bear Conservation Center. The exhibit, opening in the fall of 2013, represents the first phase in a 10-year master plan for the zoo. Portico is providing architecture, landscape architecture, interpretive planning, exhibit design, graphic design, and design visualization services for this exciting exhibit.
You may click here to read the article in Winnipeg Free Press, and click here to learn more about the project.
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 Zoo. In case you haven’t had a chance to go and see the exhibit, you can check out some new photos of the exhibit here. Portico is providing landscape architecture, interpretive planning, and exhibit design services for this project.
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 seal and sea lion exhibit is that visitors will become immersed in a naturalistic habitat that mimics the California Central Coast. Sea Lion Cove is on track to open to the public in the fall of 2012.
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, Architectural Designer.
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 businesses and resources in the greater Seattle area for kids, families, and parents. Winners were chosen by Parentmap readers, who voted from June 14 to July 14 in more than 70 different categories. Click here to see the full list of award winners and learn more about Parentmap. To learn more about KidsQuest Children’s Museum, please visit their web site here.
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 for people of all ages, including face painting, a rock climbing wall, and a touch tank; a sand sculpting contest; live entertainment; and great food. This is a free community event, and any donations will be used to help fund Hands On Children’s Museum’s free and reduced programs.
Hours are Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Port of Olympia Plaza, 704 Columbia St. NW in Olympia, Washington. Click here for more information.
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 will be the first and last experience guests of the zoo will encounter.
Along with the new penguin exhibit, Heart of the Zoo will feature guest services, as well as a education and administration complex. Portico is providing landscape architecture, interpretive planning, and exhibit design services for this project.
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 female Asian elephants. In case you haven’t had a chance to go and see the exhibit, you can check out some new photos of the exhibit here.
August 09, 2011

The Water’s Edge Plaza will be an outdoor world with a “Raindrop Plaza” and “Driftwood Beach,” offering discovery and play.
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 of the public, were able to take a sneak peek at the children’s museum, which is scheduled to open Summer 2012. Read the article here.
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 volunteered time at Food Lifeline’s Shoreline Warehouse. Portico raised funds in several ways this year, including bake sales, a Wii tournament, and a wine raffle. Thank you to those who contributed to this great cause! Please click here to learn more about Food Lifeline.
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 to read more about the baby calf and it’s mother, Renee.
June 03, 2011

Hands On Children's Museum rendering.
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, The Portico Group is teamed with the Miller Hull Partnership to create this new museum on city property within view of the Capitol Dome. Read the article here.
June 03, 2011

Portico staff members, Leigh Tucker and Lucian Connole help remove invasive plants as part of this year's Advance.
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 Hamm, representatives from Brightworks spoke about biomimicry, “a new discipline that studies nature’s best ideas and then imitates these designs and processes to solve human problems.” Then, fueled by lunch, staff participated in an EarthCorps work party, prepping a site at the park for fall planting by removing invasive plants, mulching, and doing site maintenance.
June 03, 2011

Trail to Treasure walking map
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 to connect people to the fascinating history, ecology, and culture of Pioneer Square by bringing a collection of the neighborhood’s stories to life. Portico provided planning and design services for the recently completed master plan.
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 Hot Springs. Three large tree houses will be built, along with five other smaller structures that will complete the Garden’s plan to bring children into the woods in an engaging, natural environment.
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 Whitlow, Senior Associate; and Sophia Federighi and Amelia Rampe, Receptionists. Vicky Jocson has also been promoted to Marketing Coordinator.
June 02, 2011

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo Entrance. Photo by Jamie Pham, 2010.
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 & Zoo, a Portico project, re-opened to the public in March 2010 and was the first amusement park and zoo in the nation to be awarded LEED Gold certification.
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 cooling, use of recycled and recyclable materials, extended shading systems, and energy-efficient equipment and fixtures.
April 13, 2011
Portico was recently chosen to provide schematic design services for Knock Knock Children’s Museum. Read the article here.
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 and here to learn more.
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 employees have joined the firm in the past five months. They include: George Braslaw, architect/landscape architect; Sherry Smith, interpretive planner; Steve Lewis, exhibit designer; Allen Cox, landscape designer; Melissa Cayabyab, graphic designer; and Jessie Feng, accounting manager.
December 15, 2010

Polar Ice Camp
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 houses were auctioned off and the event raised just under $2,000 for the children?s museum. Click here for more pictures. Click here to learn more about KidsQuest Children's Museum.
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 opening ceremonies. Portico provided comprehensive design services to the National Park Service and the U.S. Navy for the replacement of the existing visitor center, originally built in 1980.
November 29, 2010

Photo by Tom Fake
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 of this project since 2002.
November 10, 2010

Billy playing in his new home.
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 Carpenter was there to witness the event. Read the article here .
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 for Pioneer Square and the project.
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.
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.
October 01, 2010

Philadelphia Zoo's McNeil Avian Center
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).
August 03, 2010

Green roofs at Happy Hollow Park & Zoo diminish storm water runoff and urban heat island effect.
California Amusement Park First to Earn LEED Gold Certification, by Kathryn Jones
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 manager; Michael Fiegenschuh, architect; Ryan Storkman, landscape designer; Kevin Bazzell, architectural designer; and Justin Lyon, exhibit designer.
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, including bake sales, a Happy Hour Book Sale, and a wine raffle. Thank you to those who contributed to this great cause!
July 30, 2010

Michael S. Hamm, FASLA
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 the landscape architecture profession and the public - through his work, leadership and management, knowledge, and service.
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 Times. Read the article.
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 groundbreaking event.
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 place for two weeks in July and is an opportunity for staff to give back to our community through various fund-raising and awareness activities. Interested in helping us support Food Lifeline this summer? Donate now! (Please note “TPG” on the donation form.)
June 22, 2010

Hay-bale walls at the Learning Lodge provide excellent insulation, reducing energy use. Photo by Jamie Pham, 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 project meets the highest green building and performance measures.
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 the architectural design process, renderings, virtual tour animation, environmental visual analysis, print-ready imagery, and much more. Learn more about these exciting capabilities.
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.
April 15, 2010

Portico accepted the 2010 Thea Award at the 16th Annual Thea Awards Gala, held at Universal Studios Hollywood in March.
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 Awards, presented by the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), recognize excellence in the creation of outstanding visitor experiences, attractions, exhibits, and places.
March 01, 2010

Happy Hollow Park and Zoo in San Jose, California reopened to the public on March 20, 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 is a model of green design building practices and is LEED.
September 21, 2009

Minnesota Zoo
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.
July 14, 2009

Philadelphia Zoo's McNeil Avian Center, Photo by Tom Crane Photography Inc
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 Center. Incorporating lush walk-through habitats, visitors discover over 100 spectacular birds from around the world, many of them rare and endangered. The Portico-designed exhibits immerse visitors in exotic landscapes full of color and sound.
July 14, 2009

Alissa Rupp, AIA, LEED
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 Memorial Visitor Center at Pearl Harbor, and exhibit design leadership for Hands On Children?s Museum in Olympia, WA.
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, read more here.
July 14, 2009
Washington Aggregates and Concrete Association awarded Kent Town Square Plaza, designed by Portico, an Excellence in Concrete Award.
April 22, 2009
Designed by The Portico Group, Jungala features two of the world’s most endangered species - tigers and orangutans.
April 16, 2009
The Washington Recreation & Parks Association selected Kent Town Square Plaza as Best Park - Class I.
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.
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.
The Portico Group,
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