ZAA Comprehensive Immersion Exhibits Award - 2026

Immersive experiences featuring recreated natural landscape displays have redefined exhibit development over the past several decades, inspiring new connections to animals and their biogeographical areas of origin.

Comprehensive immersion includes multiple quality animal habitats/displays supported with food and beverage, retail, walkways, or other design elements that support an overarching theme. This design theme connects the guest to the flora, fauna, and human inhabitants within a biogeographical area through an immersive presentation of culture, landscape, and history.

The Comprehensive Immersion Exhibit Award (CIEA) message might include education programming, technology, behavioral management, enrichment, citizen science, or other innovative ideas centering on design immersion to create a holistic approach to the animal/human connection. It should inspire the guest to appreciate and take action to preserve wildlife and wildlife habitat in that focal region.

Completion Guidelines

Be as complete and descriptive as possible to improve chances for committee approval!

Eligibility Notes:

Phase development eligibility defined-This award is designed to represent multiple exhibits in a major expansion theme. ZAA recognizes that large multiple exhibit thematic zones are often opened in phases. The institution may apply for the award as each phase opens. An eligible phase must include two or more exhibits opened between January 1, 2025 and the June 30, 2026 application deadline. Please indicate the CIEA phase you are applying with. (For example: Cat Canyon CIEA, Cats of the New World)

Facilities interested in an award for a single exhibit development should apply for the Animal Exhibit Award of Excellence.

Multiple award exclusion-Facilities may apply for both the Animal Exhibit Award of Excellence and a Comprehensive Immersion Exhibit Award during the same award cycle. However, if a facility is awarded the Comprehensive Immersion Exhibits Award (CIEA), it cannot also receive the single exhibit, Animal Exhibit Award of Excellence for an exhibit within a CIEA development. Vice versa, a facility will not qualify to receive the CIEA award if it has received an Animal Exhibit Award of Excellence for an exhibit within the CIEA area development.

Eligibility: Must be a ZAA member.

Deadline: Applications must be received no later than June 30, 2026.

General information:

By submitting an application for this award, it is understood that ZAA has been given permission to reprint information for ZAA-related publications.
Multiple program areas may be submitted for consideration; however, each must be submitted as a separate entry.
If you are using a pre-written (published) description of your project summary, it must be limited to one page and include the same information that is requested in the application or attach any missing information to the application.
Optional: Up to two additional attachments may be submitted in support of your application. (Example: pre-printed articles or media articles)

How to submit:

Complete the form in it's entirety.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]

Are you a ZAA Member? If not, you don't qualify to submit an awards application. Contact [email protected] for more information! *

Yes

Facility Name *

Facility size *

Small/Medium (1-19 Full Time Employees)

Large/Macro (20+ Full-Time Employees)

Name and Title of Applicant *

Email of the preparer *

(This individual will be the contact person for communication regarding the application, any additional information needed, and the award notice if you are chosen as the winner of the award. This person has express permission to act as the point of contact for the institution.)

Phone of the preparer *

Title of the comprehensive immersion exhibits within the facility. *

When did the exhibit open to the public? *

Note: An eligible phase must include two or more exhibits opened between January 1, 2025 and the June 30, 2026

What phase of the exhibit are you applying for? *

Number of individual animal habitats/displays included in the new comprehensive immersion exhibits area. *

Provide a list of animals in each habitat/display in the comprehensive immersion exhibits (Include common and scientific name) *

What other upgrades to buildings, pedestrian walkways, landscaping, or guest services support the immersion experience? *

Write a brief, 1-2 page summary of the program that includes the following. (You may submit a prewritten article that may be reprinted.)

Does your comprehensive immersion exhibit represent a biogeographical area or culture?

Provide a description of your message represented by the designed area.

What design innovations have you included that support your message?

How do the exhibits improve animal husbandry success and provide that care message to the public at large?

List any education programs, technology, etc. that were incorporated to support the comprehensive immersion exhibit’s message.

How is the comprehensive immersion exhibit encouraging the human/animal connection?

How is the comprehensive immersion exhibit encouraging further action by the guest after visiting?

What is your target audience?

Insert summary below *

Describe how you have shared your success with peers. (Example: ZAA Journal article, ZAA community posting, blog, etc.) *

Whom may we contact at the institution who will submit an article about the implementation and success of your program for the ZAA Journal? *

Attachments: IMPORTANT

*Required- photographs ( in .jpg or .pdf format) of the program-make sure your pictures support a complete visible representation of your program and support your statements in the program summary.

Picture of the map of the comprehensive immersion exhibit. *

PNG, JPEG, JPG or PDF ( max 10 Files )

Pictures of each habitat/display and facility support buildings in the order of guest travel through the comprehensive immersion exhibits . *

PDF, PNG, JPEG or JPG ( max 15 Files )

Pictures of animal holdings and staff areas for each habitat/display in the comprehensive immersion exhibit. *

PDF, PNG, JPEG or JPG ( max 15 Files )

Facility Logo ( .PNG .pdf, or ,jpg) for use in award presentation *

PDF, PNG, JPEG or JPG ( max 5 Files )

Optional: Support Document

PDF, DOC/DOCX, XLS/CSV, JPG/JPEG, PNG, GIF ( max 10 Files )