Aquarium Milestone Celebrated

The final panel of glass to the Aquarium of the Pacific’s new construction project – Pacific Visions – was installed during a ceremony Oct. 17.

More than 100 people attended the event to celebrate the giant blue addition to the popular marine life organization. Attendees included Mayor Robert Garcia, Councilmember Jeannine Pearce, Aquarium board members and others.

“The first major expansion project ever undertaken by the aquarium, the $53 million Pacific Visions wing will be a new focal point of the institution, providing facilities that integrate the arts and sciences while offering visitors innovative ways to understand our connections to Earth, the World Ocean, and contemporary scientific research,” states an Aquarium of the Pacific press release.

“Pacific Visions will further the institution’s role as a community gathering place where scientists, policy makers and the public can celebrate the inhabitants and ecosystems of the Pacific Ocean and explore today’s most important environmental issues. The aquarium is taking an unconventional path with its expansion project,” the release adds.

The two-story, 29,000-square foot structure resembles a blue whale as well as the ocean and was designed by San Francisco-based architecture and design firm EHDD. It will house an immersive theater, expanded space for special exhibitions, art galleries and animal exhibits.

“After passing through the art gallery, visitors will proceed into the orientation gallery, which will showcase a 26-foot-wide by 8-foot-tall media wall to introduce visitors to the challenges and promises of the future to be explored in the theater,” the press release indicates.

“The two-story, 300-seat Honda Pacific Visions Theater will include a 130-foot-wide disc to immerse visitors in a virtual ocean environment. The infrastructure created for this theater will allow for media-rich performances, panel discussions, community meetings, and educational seminars that can incorporate live broadcast feeds and streaming media.”

Funding for the project was provided by various sources including the City of Long Beach, which supported Pacific Visions with a $15 million matching grant. John, Michelle, Mario and Therese Molina gave a $5 million matching grant. Five million dollars came from American Honda Motor Co., Inc., and $1.9 million came from the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy.

Those who donated $1 million or more include James and Marilyn Simons, Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg, Don Temple Family Charitable Foundation, Premier/SMG and an anonymous donor, according to the release. It adds, “Additional support for Pacific Visions comes from foundations, corporations, individual donors and gifts made anonymously.”

Though the ceremony for the last exterior glass panel took place, construction on the building, including the interior continues, explained Aquarium of the Pacific spokeswoman Marilyn Padilla.

Pacific Visions will open next spring.

“With the new expansion, the aquarium will continue its quest to meet this goal by being the aquarium of the future – a combination of museum, science center, art gallery, performing arts space, and a think tank to explore solutions to some of the world’s biggest environmental issues,” Jerry Schubel, Aquarium of the Pacific president and CEO, said in a statement.

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia said in a statement, “Over its 20-year history, the Aquarium of the Pacific has become a leader in the Long Beach community and beyond through its commitment to educating the public about the ocean and how we, as humans, impact our world.”

He added, “We are grateful to the aquarium and Dr. Jerry Schubel for their continued partnership with the city on our Sustainable Cities Initiative and are happy to support the institution and the Pacific Visions expansion, which will continue to inspire people to work toward a better future for our planet.”

Los Angeles resident Javier Nuniz visited the aquarium with his family and took photos of the Pacific Visions building.

“It is nice,” he said. “It looks very good.”

kirt@beachcomber.news