CNH provided design and oversight for the interior upgrades at the nursery building at the Minnesota Zoo’s Family Farm exhibit.

Exterior site improvements included fresh paint, new pavement, concrete plazas, new trees and plants, trellises, and a canopy to provide shade for both people and animals, and a play structure for goat enrichment. 

Grading was modified to improve water run-off. Wi-fi connections were added throughout the farm to modernize communications and power stations were spread around the farm to power food trucks. 

“Working on the existing farm was complex and challenging; we had to be nimble during construction, not knowing exactly what would be exposed as the contractor excavated carefully around the site,” said CNH Senior Associate Al Tsai.

“This is a great update for the Zoo and the family farm – making it wi-fi friendly, modernizing the walkable surfaces, defining public gathering areas, providing shade, enriching life for the animals, meanwhile maintaining the working farm atmosphere,” he added.

About the Family Farm

The Minnesota Zoo Family Farm on the west side of the zoo’s campus, and children can attend classes in the nursery building. The farm is functional and produces milk for the community. Animals in the farm’s care include horses, cows, pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits, and chickens. Children can attend day camps and the public can meander throughout to visit the animals in their pens and learn more about farming and caring for the animals at the various demonstration areas.

Headquartered in Apple Valley, MN – CNH Architects, Ltd. is a creative, service-oriented firm that provides innovative design solutions for the commercial building and retail areas, public sector clients, vehicle facility projects, daycare and animal care facilities. CNH Architects has served clients in the Twin Cities and Upper Midwest since 1969.