The Akron Zoo broke ground on its new animal hospital on April 11. Akron Zoo president & CEO, Doug Piekarz, along with U.S. Congresswoman Emilia Sykes, State representatives Bill Roemer, Veronica Sims and Derrick Hall and other elected officials took part in the ceremonial groundbreaking on Friday morning. 

The Tom and Shelley Koutnik Animal Hospital will open in 2026 and is an $11.95 million project. The Akron Zoo provides in-house care for thousands of animals on a daily basis, including regular check-ups, management of diseases and chronic conditions, surgeries and end-of-life care. The 11,949 square-foot building will include a state-of-the-art surgery suite,
intensive care unit and specialized spaces for the different species, including birds, hoofstock, primates and
large carnivores.  

The new animal hospital team includes DesignLeveL Architectural Design and Planning Firm, Marker Building Advisors and Higley Construction. 

Additionally, during the groundbreaking ceremony, the zoo announced its next capital campaign, Reaching New Heights. This campaign will support the zoo’s next major expansion, which will include giraffes, that will open in the next few years. 

“Reaching New Heights is about our commitment to this community,” said Pam Holtz, chief external affairs officer at the Akron Zoo. “We cannot reach these goals alone and we invite the community to join us on this historic journey.

Included in the capital campaign is a $2 million appropriation from State of Ohio House Bill 2 for the new animal hospital.