Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
While teaching at the university, Coe began to get calls from East Coast
zoos. He resigned from Jones & Jones—an amicable parting, with mutual
respect—and was able to build up his own practice, initially setting up a
studio in his garage. In their country home, the Coes raised basenjis, bark-
less dogs of African origin that they had first acquired in Alberta; Susan has
become an international expert on the breed.
It was not long before Coe needed a design partner. Gary Lee, with
whom he had worked at Jones & Jones, came to Philadelphia to join him.
Coe and Lee's role in the amazing rebirth of Zoo Atlanta in the mid 1980s
lead to national publicity, including a feature piece in
The Atlantic.
Coe has
since been quoted in
USA Today,
in the
New York Times,
and in the
Wall
Street Journal.
Coe was named a 1988 Honoree by
Esquire,
and in 1993 he
was made a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
In 1995, John Rogers, an architect and a former classmate of Gary Lee,
was brought in as a partner, and the firm's name became CLRdesign inc.
The offices were moved to Old City, a trendy section of Philadelphia where
art galleries, studios, and cafes now occupied former industrial buildings.
While creative collaboration is central to their work, each of the partners
plays a distinct role in the firm. Coe is the philosopher, the naturalist, the
public voice of CLRdesign. He does most of the writing and publishing,
and he works closely with zoo curators and animal caregivers. Lee, a bril-
liant conceptual thinker, designer, and artist, also has a keen eye for business.
He often represents the firm in dealing with zoo board members, directors,
and senior administrators. Rogers, a pragmatist with a background in archi-
tecture and urban planning, handles much of the business management as
well as design and client contact. The three principles are supported by an
interdisciplinary team of architects, landscape architects, exhibit and inter-
pretive designers, model makers, interns, graphic designers, and administra-
tive assistants.
The office reflects a combination of professionalism and whimsy. The
white walls are covered with photographs and huge graphics from past and
current projects. By making the plans very large and colorful, CLR helps
clients visualize and understand the ideas presented. Scale models are also
used both in developing new concepts and in communicating them to
clients.Yet along with the plans and models are playful animal sculptures,
including a life-size, fake-fur-covered stuffed gorilla named Coco who sits
near the receptionist. Coco is a favorite of CLR staff members' children,
who frequently visit the office.
