Hoar Construction and C.S. Beatty Donate Information Pavilion for Trails of Africa at the Birmingham Zoo

Birmingham, AL – Hoar Construction, LLC and C.S. Beatty Construction, Inc. have partnered to provide the Birmingham Zoo an information pavilion for the new Trails of Africa exhibit now under construction. The pavilion is located near the construction site just west of the Event Area. Constructed using posts salvaged from the demolition of the Safari Café, the roof is covered with a vinyl material printed to resemble a giraffe’s skin. The pavilion houses six large display boards showing a site plans for the exhibit and images of some of the animals that will occupy the new area. According to Rob Burton, president of Hoar Construction, “The Trails of Africa site covers a large, highly visible part of the zoo. During the next several months, Hoar Construction and CS Beatty Construction will be working to transform this site into an African savanna and a suitable home for a mixed-species exhibit. We wanted zoo visitors and the public to have an opportunity to understand the intent for the space and how the area will look when finished.”

To add to the fun, Hoar and Beatty have covered several pieces of equipment being used on the site in animal print vinyl. Visitors may see a bulldozer with zebra stripes moving quickly through the area or an excavator with its long boom covered to resemble a giraffe. “While we are working hard on this new exhibit, we wanted to have some fun and give the public a little surprise at the same time,” said Craig Beatty, president of CS Beatty Construction. “Several people from Hoar’s Marketing Department spent a couple of days applying the vinyl to some of our equipment. The equipment may not look exactly like zebras and giraffes, but they will definitely get a second look from people who visit the zoo.”

"The Birmingham Zoo is pleased to partner with companies such as Hoar Construction and CS Beatty. The pavilion with its information signage is a great help to our visitors and the additions to the equipment have caught the attention of children and adults alike and caused them to take a second look at the giraffes and zebra all located near the construction site," said Dr. Bill Foster, Birmingham Zoo CEO.

Hoar Construction, established in 1940, provides construction management, general contracting, preconstruction, design/build, and program management services. With a construction volume of approximately $600 million and managed work in excess of $300 million annually, Hoar provides services to healthcare, commercial, hospitality, institutional, and industrial clients.

CS Beatty Construction is a site development contractor based in Birmingham, Alabama. Founded in 1999, CS Beatty Construction specializes in civil site work for commercial, industrial and environmental clients. Our areas of expertise include site preparation and protection, clearing, grading, erosion control, utilities and storm drainage.

Trails of Africa is a mixed-species exhibit, featuring African animals, botanicals and cultural themed motifs in a spacious natural habitat. This exhibit unites the spirit of Africa, the diversity of our community and celebrates the progress and advancement of the City of Birmingham all while instilling the Zoo’s mission of “Inspiring passion for the natural world.”