A new visual icon at the main entry of the Houston Zoo houses both the gift shop and the executive offices for the Zoological Society. Gotsdiner Architects designed the 10,000-square foot facility to resemble a clustered village of buildings. While this structure easily blends into the existing surrounding, it also serves to reorganize the main entry plaza. The interior of the gift shop is comprised of a series of distinct departments organized around a central sales area. High beamed ceilings and a palette of natural materials help impart an upscale, yet inviting atmosphere to this new addition.