The RainForest at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo opened in 1992, over 600 animals and more than 10,000 plants call it home.
One of the largest RainForest habitats in the country, it is located on the second floor. Covering The RainForest is the Zoo's iconic architectural dome, which is home to a troop of Bornean orangutans.

With the aging 28-year old, iconic geodesic dome, housing the troop of Bornean orangutans, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo made the decision to have the replacement as a state of the art low maintenance dome. With the Bornean orangutans in mind and the idea of low maintenance, Galvanizing continues to be a go-to coating within Zoo’s and RainForest exhibits with its longevity.

With full communication between Regency (General Contractor), J.A. McMahon (Fabricator), and the Galvanizer, the dome was completed a week before the due date. With the complexity of each precisely designed fabricated tub, communication was vital for venting and drain holes while ensuring it did not impede the dome's design. The largest crane in the state of Ohio lifted the 35 Tons, nearly 40 of 8” galvanized fabricated tubing connected into a hexagon pattern, and the aluminum channel was lifted into place. With the new look on the iconic geodesic dome overtop of The Rainforest, the Bornean orangutans can demonstrate their arboreal nature while climbing 40 feet above visitors.

The economical, long-lasting corrosion protection of the galvanized coating with the state of the art ETFE (Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) paneling will ensure for decades to come that the troop of Bornean orangutans have a safe, comfortable place to call home.