Brookfield Zoo - South American Marketplace - Brookfield, Illinois

The South American Marketplace was developed as a Guest Services building to compliment the zoo’s Living Coast Exhibit.  The building is situated between the curvilinear shaped “Living Coast” exhibit building and an old neo-classic building common to the original zoo structures.  The building massing was developed to bridge the gap between these two vernaculars.

Designed as a hinge point of two separate wings of the building is a 25’ tall rotunda which serves as a food court.  The building also includes a 100 seat dining room opening to an outdoor terrace. Restroom facilities and a gift store are located on the ground level as well.  A 2 ^nd floor restaurant space includes an outdoor dining deck and can be converted into classrooms or private dining rooms. Dividing walls, A/V equipment and educational materials are concealed behind hinged wall panels when the space is used as a restaurant dining room.

The building overlooks a large event plaza where the zoo provides entertainment and food/gift cart amenities to visitors.