Denver Zoo Sues Architects and Builders Over $19M Sea Lion Habitat Flaws

Lawsuit alleges design and construction issues with new Schlessman Shores exhibit less than a year after opening.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 11:09pm

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A highly detailed, photorealistic studio photograph of a polished, chrome-plated sea lion sculpture resting on a clean, white background, with dramatic side lighting casting deep shadows to create a conceptual representation of the issues faced in renovating zoo habitats.A sleek, chrome-plated sea lion sculpture symbolizes the challenges of maintaining high-quality zoo habitats amid construction and design issues.Denver Today

The Denver Zoological Foundation has filed a lawsuit against BRS Architecture and Vertix Builders, claiming design and construction flaws in the $19 million renovation of the California sea lion habitat at the Denver Zoo. The lawsuit alleges multiple issues, including leaks, cracked areas, rusty cages, and peeling paint, emerged less than a year after the new Schlessman Shores exhibit opened in June 2025.

Why it matters

This lawsuit highlights the challenges zoos face in balancing animal welfare, visitor experience, and operational safety when undertaking major infrastructure projects. The outcome could influence how the Denver Zoo and other facilities approach future renovation efforts and contractor selection.

The details

According to the lawsuit, the design and construction flaws in the sea lion habitat renovation led to multiple leaks throughout the exhibit, cracked areas in the structure, rusty cages and hardware, and peeling paint in the animal food preparation areas. The $19 million renovation project took almost two years to complete and resulted in the opening of the new Schlessman Shores exhibit in June 2025, replacing the previous Northern Shores exhibit that had been operational since 1987.

  • The Schlessman Shores exhibit opened in June 2025.
  • The alleged defects emerged less than a year after the exhibit's opening, around May 2026 or earlier.

The players

Denver Zoological Foundation

The organization that oversees the Denver Zoo and filed the lawsuit against the architecture and construction firms.

BRS Architecture

The lead design firm responsible for the sea lion habitat renovation project.

Vertix Builders

The construction contractor that worked on the sea lion habitat renovation project.

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What’s next

The lawsuit is currently ongoing in Denver District Court. No further responses have been received from BRS Architecture or Vertix Builders as of this writing. The foundation has not disclosed a specific timeline for resolution but indicated that the matter will proceed through the court system.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of thorough planning, quality control, and effective collaboration between zoos, architects, and construction firms when undertaking major infrastructure projects. The outcome of the lawsuit could set precedents for how zoos approach future renovations and hold contractors accountable for defects.