For a comprehensive renovation, expansion, and fundamental reimagining of the Riverbanks Zoo’s existing Aquarium and Reptile Center, Main Street developed interpretive planning and design direction that transform the facility from a traditional viewing experience into an interactive hub for research and conservation action.

With both exterior and interior experience components, the new ARC invites guests to embark on a journey of discovery through the diverse biomes occupied by Earth’s reptiles, amphibians, and aquatic species. We visit temperate and tropical forests, deserts, coral reef, and the rocky littoral of the Pacific Northwest. At every stop along the way visitors are encouraged, informed and empowered to take action on behalf of wildlife and wild habitats.

As an adaptive reuse project, the ARC is a case study in the ecological values it promotes, providing an entirely new visitor experience with the smallest possible environmental impact.