Mike the Tiger Den
Baton Rouge, LA
DESCRIPTION:
The Mike the Tiger Habitat was a 2.9 million dollar, 9 month project that was completed on schedule. The project team was challenged by the logistics of the project. As on all campus projects, the students were a concern and hindrance at times. The project is bordered (literally just a few feet away) by the Maravich Assembly Center to the north and east, The Bernie Moore Track Stadium to the west, and a row of old oak trees along North Stadium Drive to the south.
The new environment created for Mike is15,000 square feet in size with lush planting, a Live Oak tree, a beautiful waterfall and a stream evolving from a rocky backdrop overflowing with plants and trees.The habitat has, as a back drop, an Italianate tower, a campanile, that creates a visual bridge to the Italianate architectural vernacular that is the underpinning of the image of the entire beautiful LSU campus.
This spectacular new habitat features state-of-the-art technologies, research, conservation and husbandry programs, as well as educational, interpretive and recreational activities. It is, in essence, one of the largest and finest Tiger habitats in the United States. The campanile at the rear of the habitat presents a perfect photo opportunity, juxtaposing Mike against an Italianate campanile, similar to the icon that serves as the logo for LSU.=
OWNER: LSU Tiger Athletic Foundation
ARCHITECT: Torre/Design Consortium, LTD
CONTRACT AMOUNT: $2,900,000
AWARDED: South Central Construction Magazine Best of 2006 – Award of Merit
