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Florida Aquarium Plans To Invest $6 Million For Expansion, New Exhibit

Artist's rendering courtesy of Florida Aquarium

This artist's rendering shows the exterior of the Florida Aquarium after the planned expansion.

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By TED JACKOVICS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 1, 2007

Video: About The Expansion | Photos, Floorplans

TAMPA - Using mostly private donations, the Florida Aquarium said today that it is planning to invest some $6 million over the next five years for an expansion, a major new exhibit and a larger ship for Tampa Bay educational cruises. The announcement comes on the same day that the city-owned attraction touted its best year of attendance since it opened in 1995.

The aquarium hopes to raise $1.3 million for an exhibit called "Ocean Commotion" that will open in October as a combination fish display and interactive experience. Ocean Commotion will replace the aquarium's Sea Hunt exhibit.

Ocean Commotion should help youngsters learn by using technology instead of simply posting a sign on a display, said Thom Stork, the aquarium's president and chief executive. Some features will enable visitors to interact with digital creations of sea life.

Visitors also will be able to download information on exhibits onto their iPods and use their cell phones both for voice and text messaging to enhance to the experience.

An array of live fish ranging from sharks to shrimp – not just any shrimp but "Kung Fu" shrimp – will be on display.

The aquarium also plans to build a 9,000-square-foot expansion for about $4 million for classrooms and conferences.

"We are turning school groups away for lack of space," Stork said.

Also, the aquarium hopes to get enough money to buy a $1 million ship that could seat 150 passengers on educational cruises on Tampa Bay, compared with the 48 passengers carried in the ship the aquarium currently operates.

Each of the projects were evaluated and passed muster for a return on investments, Stork said.

The aquarium drew 675,634 people in the fiscal year ended Sept. 30. It generated an operating surplus of $364,960 during the year, the ninth-consecutive year operating in the black.

The city of Tampa provided a $675,000 contribution for the past fiscal year, which will decline to $600,000 this year.

The funding from private sources is expected to include gifts from a more aggressive financial campaign that is under way, Stork said.

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