The lush green jungle within the Treasures of the Forest exhibit at the Tracy Aviary provides a home to some of the rarest and most endangered birds on the planet. It is this man-made rainforest lined with hundreds of plants and trees of multiple species that gives these birds their sanctuary to soar. The 300,000 annual visitors expected to the new exhibit can enjoy a walking tour while viewing a variety of birds from around the world including the Micronesian Kingfisher, Spectacled Owl and Blue-headed Macaw to name a few. There are dozens of free flight birds that can glide around the building as the visitors watch below. Additionally, for those that desire to get a closer look, the exhibit has enclosure areas for those that want to see some of the featured birds face to face.

The engineers knew when designing the building for the new exhibit that the corrosion protection for the steel support members needed to be top notch given the exposure to the moist, humid environment. The hot-dip galvanized roof beams and supporting structure needed to be protected from the constantly controlled humid environment which feed the atmosphere inside the building. The warm humid air is pumped in and replaced three times daily to keep it like an environment you would expect nearer the equator. Hot-dip galvanizing was the clear solution. Costly maintenance and corrosion repair for the structure would not be a viable option as the attraction is open 363 days a year. As specifiers intended, only hot dip galvanizing could afford such unsurpassed protection for maintenance free performance.

The open building design is reliant heavily upon a galvanized center column and galvanized spider web like tube steel roof structure. All ledgers and supporting steel have also been hot dip galvanized. In addition to galvanizing the steel structure, all parts have been painted with an epoxy top coat to blend in with the side wall of the building letting it provide a subtle backdrop to the jungle scenery. The center galvanized column was even covered with a concrete veneer and shaped to look like a giant living tree. Designers ensured all structural steel was designed correctly to aid in achieving the best galvanizing finish possible given the aesthetic requirements of the project. Particular attention was taken with all tube and pipe varieties for vent and drainage considerations. At a cost of $3.5 million the new Treasures of the Forest exhibit is now the crown jewel at the Tracy Aviary.

In total, the Aviary has some 400 birds representing approximately 135 species. The eight-acre facility within Liberty Park in Salt Lake City, Utah is a sought after destination for bird lovers during any season and has been a renowned bird habitat for almost a century since 1938. With the help of hot-dip galvanizing the new exhibit can be enjoyed by the birds and the visitors alike for another 100 years.