Imagining a Wildlife Crossing Structure from an Animal’s Perspective: The ARC International Competition’s Finalist Janet Rosenberg Team Entry ‘R-E-D’

Abstract

The story of our crossing structure unfolds with an examination of the dramatic forces that drive wildlife movement biology and behavior, along with the adaptive response we have taken against the ecological variability inherent within the Colorado landscape. We have relied on scientific knowledge, site evidence, and information on regional wildlife populations to inspire our design. The questions we raised led us to closely examine animal anatomy, physiology, and behavior, and to imagine our design from an animal’s perspective. We set our sights, minds, and challenges on an evolutionary step in the design of an animal road crossing, not simply a bridge, but a new “species” in form and function. At the heart of our crossing structure is a three-dimensional module with a planted deck, piers, and protective edges. On repetition, the module can produce curved paths as well as linear ones that respond to the clues to animal movement through the terrain, their living landscape, and their reactions to light, color, and sound that have influenced our design. Our crossing structure presents a variety of conditions suitable for a wide array of species and is adaptable to different preferences for site and science. The connections made between areas on one side of the road and the other generate a footprint that is not only modular, but more importantly for scientific research, is site specific, minimally intrusive on the existing landscape, continually changeable, and aims to make the crossing free of stress for wildlife.