Museum of Living Art

Fort Worth, TX

Architect:

Bennett Partners
(formerly Gideon Toal)

Designed as both a conservation center and an immersive guest experience, MOLA replaced the Fort Worth Zoo’s 1960 herpetarium with a world-class facility that houses more than 5,000 animals across 100+ species, including Komodo dragons, gharials, and critically endangered reptiles. Architectural features—such as curving rooflines inspired by prairie landscapes, hand-painted murals, and exhibits framed as “living art”—blur the line between exhibition and gallery. The facility integrates outdoor classrooms, underwater viewing areas, and interactive education spaces, creating one of the nation’s most innovative reptile and amphibian exhibits. An award-winning institution, MOLA set a new standard for zoo architecture and conservation design.

The Projects Group served as Owner’s Representative for the development of MOLA, guiding the Zoo through pre-design, design, and construction. TPG coordinated a complex project team that included architects, engineers, aquatic specialists, and contractors to deliver highly specialized environments such as humidity-controlled habitats, quarantine and hibernaculum rooms, and precision mechanical systems for animal care. The facility’s long-term impact has been shaped by a pioneering team of female herpetological and aquatic experts. Our role ensured that the Zoo’s conservation, educational, and operational goals were realized in a facility that is both technically sophisticated and visually compelling. Through careful oversight of cost, schedule, and stakeholder communication, TPG helped deliver a landmark project that remains one of the Fort Worth Zoo’s most popular and celebrated attractions.