We are pleased to present our Summer 2012 Newsletter packed with company updates, new fabrication methods, and recently completed projects and photographs.

Please visit COST'S website for the very latest on these projects and many more.

Trade Show News:

AZA: Please join Jeff Sheiber and Chris Foster at the upcoming AZA Conference in Phoenix,
September 10-13th. Our booth number is 501. We will be showcasing our latest work including the projects highlighted below.

IAAPA: COST will be exhibiting at the upcoming IAAPA Convention in Orlando, November 13th-16th. Please visit our staff in booth 3026.

Smithsonian's National Zoo opened its $42 million makeover of the American Trails exhibits during the Labor Day weekend. This past weekend eager guests got glimpses of California sea lions, gray seals, bald eagles, gray wolves, ravens, beavers, river otters, and brown pelicans.

Highlights of the sea lion and seal exhibit include a 300,000 gallon sea lion pool, and a 125,000 gallon seal pool with tide effects that replicate Coastal tides. Each pool offers guests split-level and above water viewing areas. Over 18,000 square feet of positive carved rockwork was completed to simulate the northern California coastline. Molded barnacles and crustaceans were strategically placed throughout the exhibit for enhancements.

Guests are invited to enjoy various seal and sea lion educational demonstrations and performances. The exhibit offers a new kid-friendly tide pool area complete with starfish and other crustaceans.

COST teamed up with the zoo staff, Forrester Construction, and The Portico Group to provide stamped engineered drawings, a scaled construction model, fabrication and installation of rockwork, artificial invertebrates, and faux logs. This is the fourth project that COST has developed at the National Zoo in recent years.

National Zoo

The Fresno's Chaffee Zoo recently unveiled the $10.5 million Sea Lion Cove exhibit in August. This project includes holding and food preparation buildings, a 250,000 gallon salt water habitat, demonstration area with rock seating, four above and under water view areas, a theme view structure and decorative rock facades. Sea Lion Cove is the new home for the zoo's three sea lions.

The simulated rockwork was modeled after Point Lobos State Park and contains barnacle, starfish and other decorative embellishments. These pieces were cast in our Wisconsin fabrication plant and then shipped to the job site for final installation. Each piece was meticulously blended within the rock facades to provide a convincing replica of the Point Lobos rocky shoreline.

COST was hired by Matt Construction to provide shop drawings, engineering, scale model, and construction of the rock work, natural stone within the exhibit, beach textures, and theme painting. The exhibit design was completed by the Portico Group, Seattle, WA.

Photos courtesy of Fresno's Chaffee Zoo.

Chaffee Zoo

The Cincinnati Zoo opened the new Cat Canyon in May 2012. This renovated 1934 exhibit now features decorative waterfalls, newly constructed rock work, a wooden bridge, eye-to-eye viewing panes and lush play spaces for the Malayan tigers, white tigers and snow leopards.

COST was contracted by HGC Construction to assist with project budgeting, value-engineering options, shop drawings, models and construction of 5,000 sqft. of new rock work, pools and earth bank surfaces.

COST is currently working with HGC and the zoo again on its new Africa Exhibit opening in spring of 2013. The project exhibits include: lion, cheetah and other African Savanna species. The design integrates faux rock formations, moats and streams that separate the exhibits without obstructing views. Total shotcrete work will be approximately 24,000 sq. ft., with kopje rock, earth bank, mud bank, and rocky stream finishes.

The Short List, A Few Projects Underway

• Assiniboine Park Zoo, Journey to Churchill
• Cincinnati Zoo, Africa
• Como Zoo, Gorilla Forest
• Cosley Zoo, bobcat exhibit
• Disney Animal Kingdom, Orlando, theme work
• Rainforest Cafe, Orlando, volcano feature
• Silver Reef Resort, Entry Waterfall
• Isle of Capri Casino, Cape Girardeau, interior theme work
• Bordertown Resort, Wyandotte, OK
• Nez Perce Clearwater Resort, interior theme work

Stay tuned for more details on these and other projects.