Highlights

The U shaped guest area is themed with sculpted block walls, which transition into smaller blocks and designs. We sculpted not in straight lines, but in a realistic way with some blocks crumbling and vines overtaking much of it.  This allows the viewing glass to appear as a natural peek into the lives of the animals.  The theming continues onto the floor to avoid any unnatural 90 degree angles.  The inside bottom of the U got an extra boost with faces of deities and esoteric symbols carved into the blocks.

This is the centerpiece of the building.  We put our heart and soul into this and are very pleased with the result.  The inside walls are sculpted blocks to match the outside guest area hallway.  It contains crumbling columns, some of which are in the process of falling over, only to be caught in midair by strong vines.  A ladder was "left" in the area and is being overtaken by vines.  All vines are concrete and super strong.  Each end wall of the exhibit was elaborately hand sculpted.  One side is a fictional bat god and the bats fly through its mouth to their roosting area.  The other end in a sculpture loosely based on the Mayan storm god; some of it has crumbled and the bats fly through it to a second roosting area.  Mist emerges from both of the mouths creating a spooky atmosphere. 

 Being arboreal, these guys need to be able to safely climb, so there are lots of sturdy vines (which are strong enough to hold a zookeeper), along with crumbling columns that have hollows built into them to serve as hiding and sleeping spots for the animals.  The walls are concrete sculpted to look like an old block wall.  A common problem with animal exhibits is how to disguise keeper access doors so they don't take from the aesthetics of the exhibit.  We airbrush painted a mural so that instead of seeing a door, you see the floor and block wall continue on into a darkened area.  This exhibit has a common wall of glass with the bat exhibit.  Various items left behind from the archaeological site were cut in half and put back together but on opposite sides of the glass, making it appear as though the area is open. 

 This one has just a bit of sculpted block wall with a shift door for the animals.   The majority of the back wall is a large mural depicting a lush jungle with trees, branches, a gorgeous glistening waterfall, and bromeliads that appear to pop right out at you.  Sturdy sculpted vines seem to continue straight into the mural.