The reserve at Chester Zoo opens with BDP led sustainable engineering

The Reserve will welcome guests into 51 beautifully crafted timber lodges, some overlooking a private savannah where giraffes, zebras and antelope roam, and others positioned around a tranquil lakeside setting. The resort is expected to draw more than 35,000 additional visitors to the North West every year, offering a rare opportunity to stay within one of the country’s most celebrated zoos and conservation charities.

BDP played a central role in the design and delivery of The Reserve, providing civil and structural engineering, building services engineering and sustainability expertise. The practice has been working in partnership with Chester Zoo for many years, including on the wider Heart of Africa project.

The development is setting new standards for sustainable design. Constructed entirely from structural timber on a regenerated brownfield site, the lodges and new welcome building are targeting a 'Very Good' rating under the BREEAM New Construction 2018 scheme. Super-insulated fabric, renewable energy generation through photovoltaics and air source heat pumps, and innovative water management solutions are embedded in the design, while 40,000 cubic metres of material from previous site works have been reused to create the new landscape.