LA Zoo Inclusive Restroom Prototype

The Los Angeles Zoo commissioned JSA/MIXdesign to create a freestanding, outdoor restroom prototype designed to replace six existing gendered multi-user restroom pavilions distributed across its 133-acre campus. As a case study, we applied the prototype to an existing site: the Gorilla Grill, situated off a main circulation path and adjacent to an eating area and animal enclosure. The exterior of the restroom is composed of two zones: a shaded seating area and a prominent open-air portal leading to the interior of the restroom. A single entry allows school group chaperones to monitor their mixed-gender groups entering and exiting the building, while a hydration station invites visitors to rest before resuming their journey.

The restroom interior comprises a washing and grooming station, which includes touch-free faucets, soap dispensers, and hand dryers that are hygienic, sustainable, and easier to use for some people with disabilities. The stalls and comfort rooms area includes compartments with full-height privacy doors and partitions of three sizes: standard, ADA-compliant, and two ADA “comfort rooms”, each with a sink, mirror, and toilet, offering a space for modest and religious people to wash and groom in private.

Client	LA Zoo
Location	Los Angeles, CA
Year	2023