Last August, the Cleveland Metroparks broke ground on Stillwater Place, a 10,000-square-foot event venue at the Zoo that will seat up to 300 guests for full-service dining and up to 800 for mingling groups. The year-round facility will feature a bridal dressing room, an outdoor patio that will accommodate up to 100 and heated/air-conditioned transportation to a designated parking area. Stillwater Place is situated on Waterfowl Lake directly across from the Circle of Wildlife Carousel.

Despite being in the Zoo, event attendees will certainly not feel as though they are on the set of an Indiana Jones movie.

"That's one of the unique elements of this particular building," says Sanaa Julien, Cleveland Metropark's chief marketing officer. "We really wanted to make sure it was modern and didn't have a particular look or feel that pigeonholed you into a specific genre or theme. It really is very clean, open to interpretation and creating any kind of event."

Longtime catering partner Aramark is funding $1 million of the $2.3 million project. The Cleveland Zoological Society is chipping in $300,000; with the Metroparks picking up the rest of the tab. Architects on the project include Brandstetter Carroll Inc. and Peninsula Architects. Regency Construction Services is the main contractor.

Work is ongoing, reports Julien, with the interior scheduled to be finished by mid-March and the exterior complete by the middle of April.

"We're waiting for the grasses to green and the different ornamentals to grow so that when we open in June, it's the most beautiful experience our guests could have."

To rent the entire facility for four hours is $4,000. However, that price may go up or down depending on the complexity of food service, the number of guests and the length of the event. Stillwater Place can also house more than one event at a time as the main reception room can be divided and the patio can serve as a stand-alone venue.

"Not only can we accommodate afternoons or evenings, there are days when we can accommodate multiple functions," says Julien. "We can handle a brunch and a dinner on the same day." Thus far, the Metroparks has booked about 10 events for the new venue.

The impetus for the project was to make the Zoo available for events during normal operating hours. Currently, venues such as the Rainforest or Primate, Cat and Aquatics Building are only available after hours. With an hour for site preparation, that makes for a late start during the fairer months.

"Who wants to have a wedding reception starting at 8 p.m. on a Saturday night?" poses Julien. With the opening of Stillwater place, area brides and grooms won't have to bow to such a restriction. Instead, they'll enjoy top-notch customer service.

"Depending on what the organization or individuals are looking for, we work with them to tailor a very custom experience based on who their guests are, what their needs are, and what they're looking to accomplish."

That attention to detail applies to décor as well as specialized menus and access to other parts of the zoo, which may look a bit different when viewed through Stillwater Place's expansive windows.

"I think it's a new way of looking at the Zoo whether you're an animal lover or not," says Julien. "It really feels like a destination event or wedding when you have it at the Zoo."