London Zoo Update

In 2011 we worked with the catering department at London Zoo to consider how the catering facilities across the Zoo site in Regents Park could be redeveloped to best meet the needs of the visitor base. The main catering facilities in the Regent Building were originally designed in the 1980's and had received only minor make overs since that date.  The M&E services and building infrastructure were struggling to meet the demands of the business and seating capacity was stretched to its limits.  The servery layout could no longer cope with the growing visitor numbers and the design was very outdated which failed to showcase the food to the best of its ability.  In short the facilities were in need of a complete overhaul.

Working with the client and SHH architectural practise we worked up concepts that would provide enhanced back of house facilities through reconfiguration of the spaces and an extended, contemporary servery incorporating front of house cooking and fabulous food display areas.  The building frontage has been extended enabling the addition of a new mezzanine seating area internally and the addition of a first floor external terrace providing views across the Zoo.  Seating capacity has almost doubled under the scheme.

Building works started in December 2012 and are expected to continue for 9 months with the fabulous new facilities opening in Summer 2013. The catering services, managed by Ampersand, have relocated to a marquee in the Zoo.   Follow the story on our Pinterest Board via Twitter Boydthorpeassoc