Oakland Zoo California Trail

Project Details

This project doubled the size of the zoo complex to roughly 100 acres with 26 new structures, and features a new European-style, aerial gondola system. Scope covered new infrastructure and buildings including: The Landing Café,  Visitor’s and Interpretive Center Buildings, Interpretive Outlook, Lower Gondola Loading Building, Pump Station, boardwalk, a new service road, and site utilities. To help reach a target budget and make the project a reality, Overaa worked with our partners to redesign the HVAC system, provide post-tensioned beams in lieu of conventional concrete deck at the Landing Café, and propose a Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) retaining wall system. Overaa also provided erosion and sediment control measures, and a temporary sound wall was installed to reduce impact of construction activity on the nearby community and wildlife. We completed the project ahead of schedule and under budget with the help of local labor, meeting both the City’s Small Business Concerns and Large Business Concerns requirements.

http://www.californiatrail.org/

Owner
The Oakland Zoo
Location
Oakland, CA
Awards
Best Project Award, Cultural/Worship Category
Size
22 acres on a 56 acre site
  • Kara Overaa Gragg

    Kara Overaa Gragg

    Vice President, Communications

  • I am writing this letter of reference to recommend Overaa Construction. Their work with us at the Oakland Zoo on the California Trail exhibit over a 3 year period was outstanding. Specifically, Overaa provided valuable constructability input as we moved through final design and permitting. We had over 26 unique structures on a very challenging site covering many acres. Overaa helped us reduce cost through material and method changes, while maintaining building quality. They kept to the schedule and turned the project over to us on time for our grand opening. Overaa’s team out of their local Oakland office helped us comply with the many City of Oakland requirements for hiring and the use of local companies. Their familiarity with the permit process in the City of Oakland was a tremendous asset to the project. The Oakland Zoo has worked with many contractors over the years and I can honestly say Overaa was the best of them all. We look forward to working with them again.

    Dr. Joel Parrott

    President and CEO (retired) The Oakland Zoo
  • Once again we say how much we appreciate you – and all you’ve done for California Trail. We know you were the linchpin that held this project together.

    Sarah Becker

    Director of Development, Oakland Zoo