In the Ostrava zoo, a new visitor center is being built

Ostrava - A new visitor center has begun construction in the Ostrava Zoo, which will also serve as an ecological education center for the zoo. It will include a restaurant with year-round operation, said zoo spokesperson Šárka Kalousková.
     The zoo has lacked adequate gastronomic facilities for several years. Ostrava Zoo is the only zoo in the Czech Republic that still does not have a year-round catering facility. People can only refresh themselves at stalls, and there is nowhere to hide in bad weather. The zoo is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city and a favorite excursion spot for Ostravans, and visitors have been complaining about the lack of a restaurant.
     The new multifunctional visitor center will be located at the site of the former and now demolished restaurant across from the deer enclosure.
An outdoor classroom and a relaxation zone with a terrace will also be built. The relaxation area will include play areas for children with a water theme.
     This will create a comprehensive facility for educational and outreach activities in the zoo, the spokesperson stated. The center will also feature smaller exhibitions, such as aquariums and panels with informational materials. The facility is expected to open in spring 2013.
     Ecological materials will be used in the construction of the center, and the entire building will be designed as a so-called low-energy building. "The visitor center will demonstrate ecological approaches through its technical solutions. The operation of the building will be ensured by renewable alternative energy sources," said Kalousková.
     The construction of the center will cost approximately 60 million crowns, most of which will be covered by grants from European funds, while the remainder will be covered by the city's budget. The construction costs for the center are lower than originally projected.
     In recent years, Ostrava Zoo has been significantly changing its face. A modern elephant house and a natural bear and huiman enclosure have emerged. The hippo pavilion and the former children's zoo, which transformed into the "On the Farm" exhibition where children can get acquainted with domestic animals, have undergone extensive renovations. The zoo is focusing on constructing new pavilions and comprehensively renovating old ones. Plans include the construction of an Evolution Pavilion, which aims to improve the lives of primates, an exhibition for penguins and seals, and the creation of a safari.