Construction on a new main building for the Little Ponderosa Zoo and Rescue is set to start Monday with the public getting a first peak at how it will look, a spokesman for a Knoxville architecture firm says.
Johnson Architecture of Knoxville has donated staff time to design the Clinton zoo's new structure after the old barn burned in December. Dozens of animals died in the blaze.
A zoo staff member reached out to the architecture firm's president, Daryl Johnson, shortly after the fire.
"It took me about 30 seconds, literally 30 seconds to respond to her and say we'll help, whatever you need we're going to do," said Johnson.
Plans call for a bird aviary, stalls to house a variety of animals and a reptile viewing area. Inside, there'll be 5,600 square feet of space, and there'll be a 1,700-square-foot mezzanine as well as front and back porches.
More: Zoo opens for spring
The building will go up on the footprint of the old barn.
Johnson said in a statement released Monday that the firm "wanted to give back" to help Little Ponderosa.
"Tere are those instances where something hits pretty close to your heart and you do want to get involved," he said.
With the design, the firm had a chance to improve the space where the animals will live. It's hoped the new design will give the public a chance to interact better with the animals.
Zoo owner James Cox says the new facility will be a state of the art rescue center, with a vet clinic and tools they needed but never had before.
Animals lost in the December fire will be memorialized in a wooden quilt square that will hang outside over the back door.
The zoo also has a memorial of its own design going up where the animals were buried. Cox says that should arrive this spring.
Cox said they were grateful for Johnson Architecture's contribution, including the quilt square to memorialize the animals who passed away.
The firm's work has included animal enclosures and exhibits at Zoo Knoxville.
Even with so much support, Little Ponderosa Zoo still needs to raise about $230,000 to replace all their equipment and supplies lost in the fire.
Cox says he's looking for people to sponsor the rooms in the new facility to help with those costs.