Swinerton and Studio Petretti Partner with Oregon Zoo to Advance Campus-Wide Clean Energy Goals

Swinerton, in collaboration with Studio Petretti, recently completed a renovation of the Oregon Zoo gift shop—an important step in the zoo’s ongoing efforts to reduce energy use, eliminate fossil fuels, and decarbonize its campus by 2040. The work included re-roofing the gift shop as well as building protective structures over the adjacent holding enclosures for the mountain goat and black bear habitats—a much-needed maintenance upgrade that also provided the opportunity to improve energy performance.

As part of the project, the gas-fired mechanical system serving those spaces was removed and replaced with high-efficiency electric equipment, retiring the last building on the southwestern side of the campus that relied on natural gas for heating. The project also incorporated new photovoltaic panels, designed by Studio Petretti, adding renewable power generation that offsets energy use across the entire zoo campus.

“Working at the Oregon Zoo is always such a rewarding experience,” said Andy Dykeman, Portland Division Project Executive. “The gift shop reroof project was tracked by everyone in the office—always wanting an update and curious about the goats and black bears. The partnerships between Swinerton, the Oregon Zoo, and Studio Petretti made this project even more fulfilling. We are excited to help Metro and the Oregon Zoo create a better future for wildlife and bring more sustainability to their operations.”

Swinerton aligned with Oregon Metro on Clean Air Construction, a regional collaboration among public entities in greater Portland to reduce diesel particulate matter emissions on construction projects. Specific steps taken include no vehicle idling and replacement of all construction equipment to battery-powered, electric, or machinery compliant with low-emission clean-diesel standards. Deliveries were tightly managed to eliminate idling and prevent fumes from entering fresh air intakes. Additionally, Swinerton’s commitment to sustainability extended to jobsite practices, including a firm no single-use plastic water bottle policy—an endeavor we proudly share with the Oregon Zoo.

Together with Studio Petretti and the Oregon Zoo, this project reflects a shared vision for a resilient, sustainable, and community-minded future, proving that even smaller, well-coordinated projects make a measurable impact in advancing Oregon’s clean-energy goals.