Habitat Africa and The Forest

The award-winning Habitat Africa! is a 9,300 square-foot forest exhibit and breeding facility that called for a self-effacing building. Interior and exterior exhibits feature the rare okapi and other animals and birds found in the heart of Central Africa’s Congo River area. Asphalt shingles were chosen as the primary cladding material because of their durability and color variations, allowing the building to meld with its surroundings, yet adding an accent to the site during the Midwestern winter.