Soaring above the Philadelphia Zoo, a tethered helium balloon animates the skyline of West Fairmount Park. We had the pleasure of designing the infrastructure for this “Soaring Safari.” Our work included the design of a plaza in the shape of a compass for launching and mooring the balloon; a queuing area for the patrons; an underground concrete vault for the winch and cable system; a support building that houses ticketing, souvenirs sales, the control office for the flight operations, and a weather monitoring station. Our team of architects, engineers, and construction managers worked intensively with the Zoo and the balloon manufacturer in England to develop the infrastructure and utilities. Despite the challenges of working with a manufacturer overseas, we delivered the project on time for the balloon’s scheduled debut.

Completion: 2002
Location: Philadelphia PA
22,000 Sq.Ft.