Now what?
26/06/21 18:39 Filed in: Zoo Design theory | Project design work
by Nevin Lash
OK. So we have just spent 16 months in a lockdown due to the COVID pandemic. Those of us who cherish their lives and health took this period seriously. Restricting social activities and gatherings, wearing masks and primarily staying home. For us, staying home began with moving our home base. At this same time, Gail and I decided to sell our house, and most of our possessions, pare down our 30 years of professional records and resources (this meant throwing out tons of paper, after reviewing each piece, photographing important items and tossing the rest) and packing things up and sending them to our future home in Belize.
OK. So we have just spent 16 months in a lockdown due to the COVID pandemic. Those of us who cherish their lives and health took this period seriously. Restricting social activities and gatherings, wearing masks and primarily staying home. For us, staying home began with moving our home base. At this same time, Gail and I decided to sell our house, and most of our possessions, pare down our 30 years of professional records and resources (this meant throwing out tons of paper, after reviewing each piece, photographing important items and tossing the rest) and packing things up and sending them to our future home in Belize.
We moved to Belize with only a couple of suitcases, three dogs and their things and our computers and hard drives. We attempted to maintain a 'business as usual' appearance, but the world was changing around us. Projects that were just starting were stopped/cancelled, projects that were nearing completion were wrapped up, and those longer term construction projects just took longer and longer to complete. New projects were non-existent or taking an extremely long time to get started. My business model of flying in for site visits and workshops quickly vanished when Airports and borders shut. Business was everything but usual. Good thing we had a new house to design and get built to keep us productive.
During the COVID times we did take part in a Design Workshop, where I was remote and producing concept plans for a new Grizzly Bear Sanctuary. This was quite successful but did require more than the usual patience and challenges with on-line technology and time consuming organization. In the end, we completed the first of many tasks for the client who was attempting to raise funds for the project at a time that the usually in-person meetings would close deals; during COVID Virtual fundraising is another subject. As a way for us to reach new clients and announce to our long time clients and friends, we participated in a virtual Conference with the AZA (National zoo association). We prepared lots of materials and spent lots of money to be presented as a virtual Business on a virtual Marketplace website, where attendees can stop by the look at your videos, read your publications and get your contact information. This proved to be completely un-used by the conference attendees for each of the commercial members. We hoped to get new contacts and leads for future projects but nothing of the sort come from it.
We did go after a couple of jobs that were advertised and in fact were selected on one! Our team will design a new Education Center and Veterinary Hospital Complex at the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, Texas with the folks at Perkins + Will, Houston who I've worked with for years on Chimp Haven. This will be a small project for them, and a limited scope for me, but it is an example of what it has taken during this COVID time to get new work. The project was advertised in October 2020, and it's now June 2021 and we have just signed the contract and hope to begin soon - 9 months later.
I think the new way to work has changed for good. There will be less flying to meetings and more reliance on Zoom-type interfaces. We will have to be more patient and more in gratitude for each and every project that comes our way. During May I helped a long term client prepare diagrams of their venues to apply for Federal grant money to assist them during these low revenue months. The needs of our clients are changing from improving their facilities and expanding their collections to 'keeping afloat'. Planning and design of the new Zoo has to take into account more high-end experiences, and time-ticketing to keep the park revenue up while the park is less full. We realize that these times are also great times to evaluate the facilities readiness for the next wave or a new pandemic. We can help facilitate needs assessments and planning for the future zoo.
What is next for us? We will continue to do what we can to support our clients, try to communicate with the greater zoo audience what our values are and what our capabilities are. We will also hope for our zoo clients to return to what they do best - advancing the care of animals in captivity and education for the next generation of children. Let us be a part of your next planning effort and turn this uncertain time into a clear future for your organization.