Thatch Roofing for Zoos: How Endureed Transformed the Cincinnati and Nashville Zoo
Client: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden / Nashville Zoo
Market: Parks & Zoos
Products:Endureed Premium Capetown / Endureed Premium Kilimanjaro
Collection:Premium
Location: Cincinnati, OH / Nashville, TN
Architect: Dean Violetta, Director of Planning and Exhibit Design, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Builder: Solomon Builders (Cincinnati) / Huber & Associates (Nashville)
Design Vision
Every great habitat begins with listening. For Dean Violetta, Director of Planning and Exhibit Design at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, thatch roofing for zoos is about far more than aesthetics — it’s about creating immersive environments that serve animals, horticulture teams, and visitors simultaneously.
“The design is entirely relative to the people. I listen to the animal, horticulture, and visitor engagement departments to flesh out everyone’s wants and needs. It’s the architect’s job to balance all of those — to make sure you get an excellent product in the end.”
That philosophy guided two landmark projects: a habitat renovation at the Nashville Zoo, where Violetta served as project architect, and ongoing work at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, where he now leads planning and exhibit design. Both projects called for a roofing material that could deliver cultural authenticity, animal safety, and long-term reliability — without the maintenance burden of natural thatch.
The Challenge
Why Natural Thatch Roofing for Zoos Falls Short
At the Nashville Zoo, imported natural thatch created chronic project delays. Inconsistent overseas shipping schedules disrupted construction timelines and made long-term maintenance planning nearly impossible. Violetta identified this as “the big one” — an unpredictable variable with no easy fix under a natural thatch specification.
Animal Safety Requirements
Zoo habitats operate under strict animal welfare standards. Every material specified for use in or near animal enclosures must be non-toxic, structurally stable, and environmentally inert. The project required a roofing product that met these requirements without compromise.
Aesthetic Authenticity
Both the Nashville Zoo and Cincinnati Zoo projects demanded roofing that felt genuinely connected to the habitats they framed — African savanna environments where inauthenticity would undermine the entire visitor experience. The design teams needed a product that looked and felt like natural thatch, not a plastic substitute.
The Solution
Domestic Supply, Consistent Delivery
Endureed engineered thatch eliminated the overseas shipping problem entirely. Manufactured in Lake City, Florida, Endureed products ship domestically on reliable, predictable schedules — removing the logistical uncertainty that had complicated the Nashville project under a natural thatch specification.
“Endureed made things easier and a lot less unpredictable when it came to shipping, delivery timeliness, and so on,” Violetta said.
Animal-Safe by Design
Endureed engineered thatch is non-toxic, fire-retardant, and structurally stable — meeting the zoo’s animal welfare requirements without requiring chemical treatment or ongoing maintenance intervention.
“I enjoy how Endureed’s product is animal-friendly. It poses no harm to the animals, and the fire-retardancy adds another level of safety.”
Premium Profiles Selected for Cultural Accuracy
The design team specified two profiles from Endureed’s Premium Collection — each chosen for its visual and cultural resonance with the habitat it would define.
Endureed Premium Capetown was selected for the Cincinnati Zoo, where its warm yellow palm profile authentically replicates the thatch found across southern Africa. Endureed Premium Kilimanjaro was specified for the Nashville Zoo, providing a profile inspired by the reed and grass thatching traditions of East Africa.
“It looked incredibly natural. I thought earlier versions of synthetic thatch looked fake, but Endureed’s product made me appreciate how close it feels to natural reeds.”
Pictured: Nashville Zoo
Collaboration & Installation
At the Nashville Zoo, President Rick Schwartz worked directly with the Endureed team to develop colorways and finishes that matched the habitat’s design intent. The result was a collaborative process that Schwartz described as seamless from specification through delivery.
“The Endureed team listened and went to work customizing colors and creating the desired aesthetic. They couldn’t have been easier to work with or more professional.” — Rick Schwartz, President, Nashville Zoo
Installation at Nashville was completed by Huber & Associates. The Cincinnati Zoo project was installed by Solomon Builders. Both projects used a closed-deck installation method, with Endureed’s design consultants supporting the project teams through specification and installation.
Pictured: Cincinnati Zoo
Results
Both installations delivered the aesthetic authenticity, logistical reliability, and long-term durability the project teams required. Facilities staff, architects, and zoo leadership across both projects have reported consistent satisfaction with Endureed’s performance under zoo conditions.
“I would 100% recommend Endureed. Everything they promised — from the authentic look and durability to the fire resistance and reliability — has been delivered. On projects like both the Cincinnati and Nashville Zoo, the thatch looked so real you’d never know it wasn’t natural. Our facilities team has been happy, our architects have been happy, and I’ve been very impressed. Endureed is a product and a partner I can fully endorse.” — Dean Violetta, Director of Planning and Exhibit Design, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Working on a zoo, theme park, or immersive habitat project?
Endureed works directly with architects, exhibit designers, and project teams to specify the right engineered thatch profile for your environment.
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