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Birmingham Zoo

September 16, 2002

Mr. Geoff Golden
President, Golden & Assoiates
2213 Morris Avenue, Suite 200
Birmingham, AL 35203

Mr. Golden,

As the Director of the Birmingham Zoo, I am writing to thank you for the effort demonstrated by Golden & Associates for the first phase of the Junior League of Birmingham / Hugh Kaul Children's Zoo. This project was the first of its kind in the Birmingham area and resulted in a product that has set the standard and the expectation for future Zoo construction.

The project was developed on a fast time line, beginning in February 2002 and opening on August 31,2002. The concept was developed in 2001, but the design was developed as construction was taking place. The concept offered an eclectic combination of natural component (a built-from-scratch granite mountain with an Alabama stream incorporated in the mountain), a commons building that consisted of a food & beverage area, support bathrooms with changing areas for wet children, a gift shop and an education classroom, a section of interactive fountains, an endangered species carrousel, an unique play ground and a barn built in the old fashion mortise and tendon construction process.

Golden Construction proved to be an excellent partner throughout the whole process and was able to meet the technical and time table challenges. Their role was mainly focused as the General Contractor on the Commons Building, Barn, and site work. The project has been a success with the public visiting the Birmingham Zoo and has demonstrated a creativity that needed to support the revitalization of the Zoo.

Sincerely,

Bruce Read
Director/CEO Birmingham Zoo