AKRON, Ohio — Travelers at the Akron-Canton Airport are now greeted in two high-traffic areas by huge, brightly colored multimedia displays showcasing several animal habitats and the Akron Zoo animals native to those regions.
The partnership to install the zoo-themed displays at the airport was announced Wednesday during a press conference at the airport.
“The Akron-Canton Airport is such a strong asset to our community,” Akron Zoo President and CEO Doug Piekarz said in a release “We are thrilled to represent the Akron Zoo not once, but twice with our installations at our world-class airport.”
As travelers approach the gates, they’ll be greeted by a two-story, 18-foot-high wall next to the escalators, installed in October.
The artwork features ocean, savannah and rainforest habitats, and includes three-dimensional plants and animals native to each region, as well as video of Akron Zoo animals.
“As we form this partnership with the Akron Zoo, we believe it is a perfect fit for our ongoing efforts to create an exceptional guest experience at CAK, while curating a sense of place,” said Ren Camacho, president & CEO of the Akron-Canton Airport.
Akron Zoo’s popular Humboldt penguins factor prominently in another display, installed in June, which can be viewed by travelers heading away from TSA security.
The multimedia display includes images of the penguins and their habitat, and offers educational information and videos of the actual birds living at Akron Zoo.
Last spring, two endangered Humboldt penguin chicks hatched at the Akron Zoo.
The zoo is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which oversees the global Species Survival Plan program. Under the SSP program, Akron Zoo and other AZA zoos protect and care for threatened and endangered species.
The Akron Zoo currently participates in 49 managed SSPs, the zoo said.
