Monroe County Approves Seneca Park Zoo Design Project

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Monroe County Legislature has approved a $6.7 million contract with CambridgeSeven to design the new Tropics Exhibit and Main Entry Plaza at Seneca Park Zoo, moving forward with the zoo’s $100 million expansion. The measure passed 25-4.

“This project will create a 21st-century zoo experience with innovative and interactive exhibits,” said Monroe County Executive Adam Bello.

CambridgeSeven, a nationally recognized firm with six decades of experience in animal habitat design, was selected through a competitive process. The firm has worked on projects for the National Aquarium, the Audubon Nature Institute, and the Rochester Museum and Science Center. Several local design firms will also contribute to the project.

The 48,000-square-foot Tropics building will feature Borneo Forest, Tropical Islands, and Pacific Reef habitats. It will include a 150,000-gallon reef tank and house species such as orangutans, lemurs, Komodo dragons, clouded leopards, and blacktip sharks. The 22,000-square-foot Main Entry Plaza will include ticketing, educational spaces, event venues, and a Zoo Shop.

Monroe County is contributing $34.5 million to the project, with additional funding from Empire State Development ($42.5 million) and the Seneca Park Zoo Society ($23 million). Funding was approved in 2022.

Seneca Park Zoo welcomes more than 400,000 visitors annually and supports global conservation efforts, as well as local initiatives like pollinator habitat restoration and community cleanups.anups.