Denver Zoo’s Stingray Cove was conceived as a fully immersive marine experience inspired by the unique landscape and vibrant culture of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. From the arrival sequence to the main interaction pool, the entire exhibit blends hands-on animal encounters with layered environmental storytelling. Our team designed a multi-zone audio system that reinforces this theme while supporting daily operations, educational programming, and private events.
The Walkway/Entry zone establishes the Baja-inspired atmosphere from the moment guests step inside. Recessed speakers integrated directly into the masonry walls provide subtle environmental ambiance without visual clutter, preserving architectural integrity while setting the tone for the experience ahead. The audio is designed to feel organic—an extension of place rather than an added layer.
The “Sand bar” party zone, an open-air venue overlooking the 15,000-gallon stingray pool, supports both daytime programming and after-hours events. Guests can sit on either side of the water and watch rays and sharks glide through the tank, with views stretching toward the zebra and ostrich habitat. The distributed speaker system provides even, balanced coverage across seating areas, and modulating the volume with ambient sensing microphones allows music to enhance the environment without overpowering conversation or the natural ambiance of the space.
In the Retail/Dining zone—where guests can also wash hands and purchase shrimp to feed the rays and sharks—we leaned further into the Baja-inspired character. Audio in this area is sourced to a retro-style boombox feature (aligned with surface-mounted speakers) reinforcing a playful coastal aesthetic. Sandwich board-style digital signage displays integrate storytelling with menu boards and way finding, ensuring the thematic experience extends through even the most functional guest touchpoints.
Music in the exhibit areas was curated alongside local Denver artist Armando Silva, who collaborated with the Denver Zoo to create a mural in the Stingray Cove exhibit, featuring a Loggerhead turtle inspired by the species' habitat in Baja California, Mexico. This partnership aimed to highlight community, culture, and marine life conservation through his signature, vibrant storytelling style.
The Main Tent, which houses the primary interaction pool, presented the project’s most complex acoustic challenge. Beneath the canopy, the continuous noise floor generated by the waterfall feature and essential life support systems created a demanding environment for speech intelligibility. Clear audio was critical for keeper interpretation, yet the system needed to remain natural and unobtrusive within the immersive setting.
To achieve this balance, we deployed headset microphones paired with a carefully designed distributed speaker system that provides consistent, controlled coverage throughout the tent. The system was tuned specifically to prioritize clarity and intelligibility in a high-noise environment, ensuring guests can fully engage with educational content without excessive volume or echo. Living Exhibits—the organization that manages Stingray Cove installations across the country—remarked that this location was the best sounding Stingray Cove they had worked on.
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Denver Zoo - Stingray Cove
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Denver Zoo