St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter reminisces about watching Sparky the Sea Lion perform at the Como Zoo as a child during a groundbreaking event Thursday. Construction of a new $20 million seal and sea lion exhibit will begin in the next week or two. (Staff photo: Bill Klotz)
After a year of design and other preparations, the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory in St. Paul is moving into the building phase of its new $20 million seal and sea lion exhibit.
Construction will start in the next week or two and will play out over an 18-month cycle, said Michelle Furrer, the zoo’s campus manager. Known as Como Harbor, the project is expected to wrap up by the end of 2019.
The zoo, working with project-management company CPMI of Eagan, is bidding out the work in 19 packages, Furrer said. About half of those have already been awarded. Demolition is nearly complete.
Zoo officials and other project supporters held a ceremonial groundbreaking on Thursday for the project, which will provide a new home for the zoo’s Sparky the Seal show.
Unlike previous zoo projects, Como Harbor is rising in the heart of the zoo, so it will be “a little more challenging” for visitors to “get from Point A to Point B,” Furrer said. Even so, “excitement is building” for the project, she said.
The new exhibit, designed by Philadelphia-based CLR Design, will replace the former 1930s-era Monkey Island, which was later converted into a seal habitat. Zoo officials said the new exhibit will “meet or exceed” all regulatory requirements for animal care.
A cornerstone of the exhibit is a shaded amphitheater that will overlook 64,000 square feet of habitat and a 5,000-square-foot main pool. An addition to the existing Marine Mammal Building will function as an animal holding area.
Other features include an aquatics life support building, an indoor underwater viewing area, and new restroom and food buildings. Heated saltwater in the pool will allow for year-round seal and sea lion activity, according to the zoo.
The project was funded in part with $15 million from the 2017 state bonding bill. Since that time, the project team has been working on design development, construction documents, bidding and permits.
Como Friends, the zoo’s nonprofit partner, is raising the remaining $5 million.
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