Henry Doorly Zoo
Desert Dome
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Area: 82,000 SF
Construction Cost: $31.5 Million
Major Project Spaces:
• Lower level swamp environment
• Waterfall and water features
• 30 ft. sand dune
• 55 ft. central mountain
• Saguaro cactus forest
• Kuiseb canyon oasis
• Matterhorn of Africa
• Wave rock
• Desert cave
Project Architect: ASD Stanley J. How Architects, Inc.
Who would have imagined rock wallabees, cape cobras, caracal cats or 15-foot cacti in Nebraska? A visionary zoo director, Doctor
Lee Simmons did and now the Desert Dome has become reality. Research, conceptual design and budgeting began in 1996 for the
Henry Doorly Zoo Desert Dome. The project has blossomed into the “world’s largest geodesic dome and indoor desert” standing 145
feet high and 233 feet wide. Visitors are immersed in three diverse desert environments contained on the first level: the Namib
Desert of southern Africa, the Red Center of Australia and the Sonoran Desert of the southwestern United States and northwestern
Mexico.
Animals and plants are showcased in a man-made environment though it closely resembles the natural environment. At the center of
the Desert Dome is a 55-foot central mountain containing displays, caves, waterfalls and a continuous sand fall. Paths
surrounding the cave lead the visitor through breathtaking twists and turns, starting with a 30-foot sand dune and moving on to
the reptile cave, cactus forest and hummingbird canyon.
Involved in the project since its inception, Alvine Engineering's team participated in two years of research,
conceptual design and budgeting with the zoo and architect. In 1998, funding became available and the project moved forward. The
unique shape, material and biologically diverse environment gave our engineering team the opportunity to tackle several design
challenges and learning opportunities. Phase I of the Desert Dome opened in the spring of 2002 and Phase II, the lower level
nocturnal swamp exhibit, will open in the spring of 2003.
Photography by Tom Kessler
Back to Projects
