Your inside look at Project Zoo: Wildly Reimagined!
LITTLE ROCK (October 8, 2025) – As the Little Rock Zoo’s transformation continues, the past several weeks have marked a major shift from site preparation to the foundational work that will support the Zoo’s exciting new buildings. From deep excavations and rebar placement to the pouring of concrete footings, crews have been hard at work laying the groundwork—literally—for the next phase of construction. At the same time, the iconic Mushroom/Echo Dome has been carefully dismantled, making way for new developments in the entry plaza.
In this update, we’ll take a closer look at the progress from Week 11 through Week 16, highlighting the key steps that are shaping the Zoo’s future.
Week 11: August 18-22, 2025
This week marked the official start of the foundational phase. Crews focused on excavating the building footprints to the required depths, digging deep trenches for future foundations. Temporary wood shoring was installed in key areas to hold back soil and ensure safety during the work.
As the trenches took shape, crews began placing reinforcement steel (rebar) in sections of the excavation, laying the groundwork for the concrete footings and slabs. Plumbing and utility conduits that run beneath the foundation were also positioned to coordinate with upcoming concrete work.
Week 12: August 25-29, 2025
Work continued as crews added more rebar throughout the excavated areas, extending the reinforcement for future footings and foundation pads. The trenches were graded and checked for proper depth and alignment, ensuring a stable, level base.
By the end of the week, crews were installing formwork in key areas and finalizing rebar placement, preparing the site for concrete footings. Additional underground infrastructure—including drainage lines, water pipes, and conduits for electrical and mechanical systems—was completed to ensure everything was in place before pouring.
Week 13: September 1-5, 2025
This week, crews completed the final grading, rebar adjustments, and formwork for the first set of footings. Inspections confirmed that soil compaction, alignment, and reinforcement met engineering specifications. With the groundwork complete, the site was ready for the concrete footings to be poured the following week.
Week 14: September 8-12, 2025
Crews poured the concrete footings for the first set of new buildings, carefully leveling and smoothing the surfaces to evenly distribute the weight of the foundations above. After pouring, the footings began curing, a critical process to ensure full strength.
At the same time, demolition of the Mushroom/Echo Dome continued. Crews had begun cutting at the base of the structure in Week 6 to expose the steel rebar skeleton. This week, heavy machinery was used to carefully push the Dome over, and crews began crushing the concrete into rubble for reuse elsewhere on site.
Week 15: September 15-19, 2025
Demolition of the Mushroom/Echo Dome progressed. Crews continued crushing and removing concrete and steel, carefully managing debris for recycling and preparing the area for eventual resurfacing and entry plaza improvements.
Week 16: September 22-26, 2025
Crews completed the bulk of the Mushroom/Echo Dome demolition this week. While most of the concrete has been set aside and crushed for reuse, several anchor points where the Dome’s rebar was embedded remained in the ground. Crews carefully cut out these remaining sections, leaving holes in the concrete that will be addressed in the coming week(s). Once these anchor points are removed and the area is resurfaced, construction fencing will be pushed back, opening more of the entry plaza for guests.
Meanwhile, piles of sand and gravel were brought on-site as crews begin adding and spreading material into the building footprints. This work is forming the foundation base—creating a stable, level surface in preparation for upcoming concrete pours as the new buildings start to take shape.
Watch Us Grow
This project is about more than construction—it’s about shaping the next 100 years of conservation, education, and connection. Whether you’re a longtime member or a first-time visitor, we’re grateful to have you with us on this journey.
In the coming weeks the concrete foundations are scheduled to start! This milestone marks the first step in bringing the new structures to life, and once the foundations are in place, the rest of the build can begin. We can’t wait to watch this part of the project take shape!
Stay tuned to this blog series for regular updates, behind-the-scenes stories, and progress photos as we continue building the future of your Zoo. For more details about the project and a closer look at what’s coming, visit our Project Zoo: Wildly Reimagined page.
