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Aquarium of the Pacific Expansion

The Aquarium of the Pacific Expansion houses an immersive theater experience and changing exhibit galleries within its new biomorphic structure.

 

A CULTURAL ICON

Located at the center of the Queensway Bay waterfront development, this aquarium serves as both an icon for the community and a metaphor for the ocean it adjoins. Inside and out, the building is a fluid, organic space in which the traditional barriers between people, architecture, exhibits, and the natural environment are purposefully dissolved. Along with exhibits and educational spaces such as classrooms, hands-on learning labs, and a theater, the aquarium has a cafe and three terraces that overlook the ocean.

 
 

Aquarium of the Pacific Expansion

Location: Long Beach, CA
Client: Aquarium of the Pacific
Architectural Firm: EHDD
Year Built: Construction expected to finish in 2018
Expansion Size: 29,000 sq. ft.
Awards: 2007 Livable Building Award

 
 

A NEW FACADE

Over 800 glass panels covering an area of 18,000 square feet will create the dramatic curves of the building’s biomorphic architecture. 

MORE GALLERY SPACE

The expanded Changing Exhibit Gallery will double the existing changing exhibit gallery space, adding a total of 6,000 square feet.

A PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY

The front pavilion will host cultural festivals, outdoor programs, and art installations, serving as a gathering place for the community.

 
 
 
 

AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE

The expansion includes the addition of a planetarium theater for showcasing marine lifeforms "too large to live in captivity and too small to be seen with the naked eye". The interior features a 180 degree panoramic screen and illuminated stage, while the exterior of the theater addition is expressed as a biomorphic form clad in chromatic glass panels. The biomorphic form punctures the interior, creating a dialogue between interior and exterior environments and serving as the inspiration for the interior finish palette.

 
 
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