Aquarium of the Pacific Celebrates With Groundbreaking Ceremony for Its First Major Expansion, Pacific Visions

LONG BEACH, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#ClarkConstruction–The Aquarium of the Pacific, one of the nation’s largest and
most-visited aquariums, celebrated its future Pacific Visions
wing with a groundbreaking ceremony today and announced Clark
Construction as the general contractor. The 29,000-square-foot,
two-story sustainable structure is designed by the San Francisco-based
architecture and design firm EHDD. The first major expansion project
ever undertaken by the nonprofit aquarium, Pacific Visions, slated to
open in late 2018/early 2019, will be the new focal point of the
institution and will engage the public with epic ocean stories and
inspire them to create a better future for our planet. The main Aquarium
building will remain operational throughout the construction phase.

“Pacific Visions will create a forum for the important issues affecting
our ocean. We are honored to be working with the Aquarium of the Pacific
and aim to contribute to the inspirational aspect of the new wing by
evoking the depth and mystery of the ocean through architecture,
particularly the dynamic glass facade,” said Duncan Ballash, EHDD
president.

Pacific Visions is designed as a biomorphic structure. Complementing the
Aquarium’s existing building, Pacific Visions will have a façade made up
of more than 800 non-reflective glass panels covering an area of 18,000
square feet. The Pacific Visions project includes the Honda Pacific
Visions Theater, new Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Entrance and front
pavilion, changing exhibit gallery with live animals, art gallery, and
orientation gallery. The two-story, 300-seat Honda Pacific Visions
Theater will include a 32-foot-tall, 130-foot long, 180-degree arc
digital projection wall and a 30-foot-diameter floor projection disc to
immerse visitors in a virtual ocean environment. The theater will bring
to life epic ocean stories, allowing audiences to discover new species,
witness the processes and phenomena of Earth’s ecosystems, and grapple
with the many challenges facing the natural world. Seats will be wired
for interactivity, providing visitors opportunities to explore a range
of possible alternative pathways to the future and to discover how our
activities will determine the future. All stories will be developed by
the Aquarium in partnership with leading scientists, filmmakers, and
digital artists.

Pacific Visions will incorporate a range of technologies and media
design developed by EMMY award-winning Cortina Productions. Media
technology will create rich, dynamic, relevant multi-sensory,
multi-dimensional experiences. Interactive technology will create a
space where science, art, and nature can blend in a fluid, intuitive way
for innovative learning. Digital exhibits using real-time data will
enable the Aquarium to address breaking scientific discoveries and
current and emerging environmental topics. When visitors leave the
Aquarium, they will be able to remain connected and share the experience
with friends and family through the Pacific Visions app.

Pacific Visions is supported by the City of Long Beach with a $15
million matching grant, a $5 million matching grant from John, Michelle,
Mario, and Therese Molina, and $5 million from American Honda Motor Co.,
Inc. Private donations and commitments of $1 million or more have been
given by James and Marilyn Simons, Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg, Don
Temple Family Foundation, SMG, and one anonymous donor. The Aquarium has
secured $42 million of the $53 million total cost for Pacific Visions.
Members of the public can support Pacific Visions at pacificvisions.org
or by contacting Director of Development Ryan Ashton at rashton@lbaop.org
or 562-951-1701.

Contacts

Aquarium of the Pacific
Marilyn Padilla
mpadilla@lbaop.org