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The KC Zoo’s Giraffe Habitat Expansion Awaits Final Review Next Week

The Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium's new giraffe habitat exabit received a recommendation for a special permit review by the City Planning Commission on Wednesday. Photo credit: TESSERE.

Posted February 7, 2025

The Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium’s planned $20 million giraffe habitat expansion received approval from the City Plan Commission and will move to final review next week.

On Wednesday, the City Planning Commission voted to approve a special use permit for the habitat expansion. The permit now awaits final review, which will take place at the Board of Zoning Adjustment meeting scheduled for Feb. 12.

The new giraffe expansion, announced in November, will feature a new feeding complex for the zoo’s five Masai giraffes and allow guests to visit them year-round. At the time, zoo officials said the new habitat was estimated to cost around $20 million, with an additional $10 raised through a fundraising effort.

Additional expansion features would include new ADA-accessible restrooms, a universal changing table as well as a mother’s room and toddler seats, according to the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium’s website.

“They are such unique animals, and we want as many guests as possible to be able to see them, so we are thrilled to upgrade this area to offer viewing all year,” director and CEO of the Kansas City Zoo, Sean Putney said at the time of the announcement. “This will be the largest project that has been done in the Africa section since it opened in 1994.”

JE Dunn Construction is the general contractor and Tessere is the architect for this project, according to city documents. The zoo expects to begin construction of the expansion later in February and hopes to complete the project by May 2026.