Three-Year Collaboration Delivers Transformative Habitat Supporting Conservation and Community

San Diego, CA — Pacific Building Group has completed construction of the Denny Sanford Elephant Valley at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s San Diego Zoo Safari Park, marking the culmination of a three-year effort and one of the most significant projects in Pacific Building Group’s 40+ year history.

Opening to the public on March 5, 2026, Elephant Valley represents a major advancement in immersive habitat design — expanding the Safari Park’s longstanding leadership in wildlife care, conservation science, and the guest experience. Designed to reflect the rhythms of the African savanna, the habitat provides expansive terrain, water features, enrichment environments, and elevated guest viewing experiences that foster deeper understanding of elephant behavior and global conservation efforts.

 

Building Within a Living Environment

For Pacific Building Group, the project’s complexity extended far beyond traditional construction.

Built within an active wildlife park environment, the project required close coordination with Zoo planners, the elephant care team, horticulture specialists, architects, and a broad network of trade partners. Construction sequencing, safety protocols, habitat functionality, public safety, animal welfare, and horticultural considerations were integrated into every phase of work.

Architectural design was led by Hanna Gabriel Wells in collaboration with the Zoo’s internal architectural, horticultural, and animal care teams — ensuring the final constructed environment supports the elephants’ well-being while providing an unmatched visitor connection.

“Elephant Valley represents the very best of what long-term partnership can accomplish,” said Andre Childers, President of Pacific Building Group. “For more than three years, our project team worked alongside the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance — not simply as a general contractor, but as a committed partner in bringing their conservation mission to life. We are proud of our enduring relationship with the San Diego Zoo Global and are deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a project that will serve both wildlife and the greater San Diego community for generations to come.”

 

Key Scope/Elements of the Project

  •  Site Size: 13 Acres
  • 2 active Elephant Yards and 1 Animal Ambassador Exhibit
  • 3 Animal Ponds and LSS Structures – totaling 325,000 gal
  • 19,700 SF Hospitality Lodge including:

-Basement Commissary (services entire Safari Park)

-Main Kitchen/Quick Serve (services Main/VIP Restaurant)

-VIP Level – Wedding/Conference/Celebratory Space

  • Tenant improvement West Barn and new Exterior Yard
  • 3 Bridges and 1 elevated Walkway
  • The Grove – Stage and Green Room Building and 6 Grove Tents
  • Retaining Walls – 2 Soil Nail Walls, 2 Geo-Grid Walls, 1 Rock
  • Anchor Wall

Deep Foundations – 80 Helical Pile and 94 Caissons

 

A Milestone Project for Pacific Building Group

The completion of Elephant Valley reinforces Pacific Building Group’s capacity to deliver complex, large-scale projects requiring specialized coordination, adaptive problem-solving, and sustained collaboration.

As a locally owned and operated firm serving San Diego for more than four decades, Pacific Building Group continues to contribute to projects that shape the region’s cultural, civic, and environmental landscape. Elephant Valley stands as both a milestone achievement and a reflection of the company’s long-standing commitment to building spaces that strengthen community connection.

Elephant Valley opens to the public on March 5, 2026, and is included with Safari Park admission.

 

About Pacific Building Group

Founded more than four decades ago, Pacific Building Group is a locally owned and operated general contractor known for delivering diverse and complex projects that shape the region’s built environment. From tenant improvements to complex ground-up developments — including waterfront structures and large-scale civic and wildlife facilities — the company’s portfolio reflects both versatility and depth.

With direct leadership involvement and long-standing industry relationships, Pacific Building Group combines hands-on craftsmanship with the agility that comes from local ownership. Many of the firm’s partnerships span years — and in some cases decades — reinforcing a reputation built not only on technical execution, but on trust, responsiveness, and shared commitment to the San Diego community.

Whether constructing highly specialized and ground-up construction environments like Elephant Valley, or tenant improvement work spanning just about all market sectors  , Pacific Building Group approaches each project with the same philosophy: No project is neither too big nor too small, with delivering the highest level of service as the focus.

 

Featured National & Regional Coverage

The opening of Elephant Valley has garnered widespread attention, including national recognition on the Today.

▶ Watch the Today Show feature:
San Diego Zoo Safari Park Reveals Elephant Valley Park

The project has also been featured by the San Diego Union-Tribune and other regional and national media outlets.

▶ Read the San Diego Union-Tribune article:
After years of construction, Safari Park’s massive new elephant habitat is opening