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(February 15, 2018) ATLANTA, GA – The Winter Johnson Group has been selected by Zoo Atlanta to build the Zoo’s new expansion, named Grand New View. In this transformative project, Winter Johnson Group is revitalizing the historic Cyclorama building and dramatically expanding the habitat for elephants and other African wildlife.
Brent Reid, Managing Member of Winter Johnson Group, said, “Our team loves to build projects at the Zoo. The Zoo’s mission is inspiring and the whole Zoo community is amazing. Grand New View will live up to its name.”
Grand New View will remake the Cyclorama building into a one-of-a-kind event destination overlooking the wonders of an all-new African savanna, where African elephants and other wildlife will roam new and significantly expanded habitats. According to Zoo Atlanta, whose mission focuses on wildlife conservation, education, and research, African elephants face serious and pressing threats in the wild as a result of killing for the black-market ivory trade.
Winter Johnson Group will also build new indoor elephant night areas. These spaces will also include administrative offices for many of the Zoo’s animal care experts. Other species that will call the new savanna complex home include giraffes, zebras, and warthogs.
Artis Johnson, Managing Member of Winter Johnson Group, commented that Grand New View is also a transformational improvement for the Zoo’s surrounding community, Grant Park. “The Grant Park community is a great historic center of Atlanta. We are proud to be partnering with Zoo Atlanta, and to be participating in making this incredible place even more amazing.”
The Winter Johnson Group has completed other successful projects in the unique environment of Zoo Atlanta. In 2015, the Winter Johnson Group completed Zoo Atlanta’s award-winning Scaly Slimy Spectacular: The Amphibian and Reptile Experience. In 2012, Winter built the giraffe feeding platform in the former African Plains habitat.
The architect of record for the project is the Epsten Group. The City of Atlanta built the Cyclorama building, designed by John Francis Downing, in 1921.
About Winter Johnson Group
The Winter Johnson Group (WJG) is a joint venture between Winter Construction and Johnson Construction Services. Formed in 2010, the joint venture is built on a relationship that goes back almost 30 years, extending from the Grady Memorial Hospital Renovation and Expansion Program on which Artis Johnson, serving as Deputy Program Manager, was responsible for overseeing the construction activities of Winter Construction on several of the program elements. Winter Construction and Johnson Construction Services formed Winter Johnson Group to pursue work together officially, each bringing valuable experience to the partnership. WJG is fully committed to fostering and developing minority, female, and small business enterprises as a key benchmark of its business operations. For more information, visit www.winterjohnsongroup.com.
Media Contact:
Sacha Turpin, Director of Marketing, Winter Construction, 404-965-3369, sturpin@winter-construction.com
