The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) announced that Zoo Knoxville has been recognized with AZA’s 2019 Exhibit Design Award for its significant achievement in creating the Boyd Family Asian Trek exhibit. Zoo Knoxville received this national award during AZA’s September conference in New Orleans.

With its annual Exhibit Award, AZA recognizes excellence by an AZA-accredited facility (US or international) or certified related facility member in the areas of exhibit design and providing visitors with the opportunity to engage in observing and learning about the animals.

Mother and daughter enjoying the tiger at the award-winning Boyd Family Asian Trek. Photo by David Massengill.

Boyd Family Asian Trek’s four-acre campus is Zoo Knoxville’s largest, most interactive and immersive project to date. Completed in March, 2018, Asian Trek features Tiger Forest, Gibbon Trails, and Langur Landing. These state-of-the-art habitats showcase Malayan tigers, white-naped cranes, white-handed gibbons, and silvered leaf langurs. It also received the distinction of being voted one of the top 10 animal exhibits in the country by USA TODAY 10Best Reader’s Choice travel awards in 2018.

Development team: Blaine Construction, CLR Design, Gecko Group, Johnson Architecture, and Partners Development