Hogle Zoo required a modern, reliable fire alarm system capable of protecting visitors, staff, and valuable animal collections in a uniquely challenging environment. The goals were to replace outdated infrastructure with an enterprise-grade solution that could handle extreme humidity, animal interference, and the need for minimal operational disruption. Achieving these objectives was critical for life safety, regulatory compliance, and long-term operational efficiency.
Business Objectives:
- Designed and implemented an enterprise-grade fire alarm network for a complex, high-challenge environment
- Delivered reliable fire alarm coverage in animal holding areas while meeting strict humidity and environmental exceptions
- Successfully migrated 30% of the zoo’s systems to the new platform
- Positioned the zoo for future cloud-based fire alarm administration
The Fun Part
Since joining Convergint, I’ve had the opportunity to support several major national accounts, including Chevron, Rio Tinto, and Walmart. Yet one project stands out as my absolute favorite: Hogle Zoo.Working with the zoo’s team has been an absolute blast. We’ve been building a modern, enterprise-grade fire alarm network while installing dedicated systems in animal holding areas. The environment presents unique engineering challenges — high humidity, curious animals, and the need to protect both people and wildlife without disruption. Overcoming these hurdles has made the project especially rewarding.
So far, we’ve successfully migrated approximately 30% of the zoo to the new system. The work is progressing smoothly, and I’m excited for the next phase: implementing cloud-based administration for the entire fire alarm infrastructure. This will give the zoo greater visibility, faster response capabilities, and simplified long-term management.
On a personal note, I recently visited Hogle Zoo for the first time in 40 years. I was thrilled to see it still has the same joyful, family-friendly feel, now enhanced with impressive new facilities. (The old WAX machine is sadly gone, but the overall experience is better than ever.)
If you haven’t been to Hogle Zoo in a while, I highly recommend a visit. It’s a wonderful place that continues to evolve while keeping its heart intact.
