Rosamond Gifford Zoo targets summer 2021 to open new $8M animal health center project

SYRACUSE — The Rosamond Gifford Zoo hopes to have construction of a new animal health center completed by July 2021. 

The project is a $7.5 million investment, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said during a Sept. 10 groundbreaking ceremony.

“This money was appropriated … in 2018 with the public-private partnership we have with our Friends at the Zoo, the Friends group will be donating $1.2 million worth of medical equipment to the health center,” said McMahon.

Zoo officials have been waiting for this day for a long time, said Ted Fox, director of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, who joined McMahon for the groundbreaking. 

“The health-care center that’s in the zoo now in the main building has served its purpose was really state-of-the-art when the zoo was redone in the [1980s],” Fox said in his remarks. “But this facility is going to really knock it out of the park in terms of animal care and wellness.”

Fox and other zoo officials appeared before the Onondaga County Legislature to make the case for a new health clinic.

“First off to continue the accreditation at the zoo, but also, as you know, we’ve had a lot of events here where we are entrusted some of the most amazing animals in the world and to continue that, we need the ability to make sure that they receive the proper health care,” McMahon said in his remarks. 

McMahon noted that VIP Structures of Syracuse designed the project and Upstate Companies of Mt. Upton in Chenango County is the general contractor on the project. Environmental Design & Research, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, & Environmental Services, D.P.C. (EDR) of Syracuse is also conducting engineering work on the project. 

Burns Bros. Contractors of Syracuse will handle the mechanical and plumbing work in the building as well. 

“Two of our friends here today will be some of the largest animals that will benefit from the health clinic,” McMahon said, referring to two camels that zoo officials brought to the mid-morning groundbreaking ceremony.