Interview 3367 – Caption Index: 236
You built the jungle. Read More
You built the jungle. Read More
Why did you decide to do that as opposed to any other type of thing that you might have done?… Read More
And after a couple of drinks, why, you know, and, and off the zoo grounds, you get the answer. And early on, we did it as a formal thing. I had a thing where we made lists. And you make a list. You make the lists of number one, all… Read More
If you bring in an outsider, who’s a designer, an architect, whatever, they’re going to throw up something that’s really grandiose that makes a big grandiose statement, architectural statement, but probably is a functional abortion behind the scenes. And behind the scenes is more important than what the public sees. Read More
Absolutely no exceptions. If you can’t, if you can’t satisfy that list, you don’t do the project. And then, and then a list of all of the things that you would like to avoid if you can possibly afford it. And there’s always compromises. You can’t afford to do everything… Read More
And then the third list, and the final list is that same type of list for the general public. And inevitably, if you’ve done the first two, if you’ve satisfied the first two, you end up with a much bigger project. That’s why our buildings tend to be so big. Read More
We went to whoever had, whatever zoo had a similar exhibit, but we also went to nearly every major botanical garden in the United States. Read More
And I actually even went to Kew Gardens in London and spent about four and a half, five days at Kew Gardens looking at them, not just looking at the place, but asking, you know, I mean, the big thing is what have you done, right, what have you done… Read More
And what, what they’ve done wrong is probably more important. Read More
So that’s when you, you know, that’s when you take a little money along and take the staff that actually run the place, take them out to dinner, feed them a couple of beers or a couple of stiff drinks and say, you know, what would you sell your soul… Read More
There’s absolutely no chance that you’ll ever get it done and fulfill it. We have managed a new project, a major new project. I’m thinking back, you know, in the course of, you know, being director, I think we did about 19 major projects and about 18 smaller projects in,… Read More
The good thing about a local architect is I got to live in the same town with you and that project forever. So they will listen to you. And we’ve kind of developed a philosophy over the years. And in the early, early time, we did it as a kind… Read More
Can you take us kind of through a step-by-step process that you have developed to go through when you first start to consider a project?… Read More
Do you have 10 projects lined up, or you think of one at a time?… Read More
And then how do you start going from your vision and how do you get that vision to, you know, people walk through the door?… Read More
Well, I think in, you know, when you talk about exhibits and exhibit designs and, and what exhibits to build next and all, one of the things that I’m absolutely against other than maybe an a, an overall direction and design is, is the quote unquote traditional master plan, because… Read More
You’re simply support them and urge them on. And basically, you know, all of this that Marge is doing is not because I, you know, or we or somebody said, hey, you need to go to Madagascar and, and get into preserving orchids. We’re just kind of getting out of… Read More
You’ve said that the conceptualization, design implementation of successful exhibits management facilities or programs for the benefit of animals, visitor staff are among the most challenging, and at the same time, most rewarding, fun things that a zoo director gets to do?… Read More
Absolutely, I mean. Read More
Well, it’s one of those things that if you’d asked me 30 years ago, if we’d been involved with a rare plant lab, I was said no way. Or if you’d asked, you know, 30 years ago, if we’d ever be involved in reforestation or, or some of these other,… Read More