by Joe Kleiman, InPark News Editor
The Kansas City Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners has approved construction of a $75 million aquarium at the Kansas City Zoo in Kansas City, Missouri. Approximately $60 million of the cost will be allocated to construction of the facility.
With construction beginning in 2021 and completion scheduled by 2023, the sixty thousand square foot exhibit will house 600,000 gallons of water spread over 30-35 exhibits.
According to architects EHDD: “The project uses the concept of marine currents as an interpretive framework. This storyline presents a diverse aquatic collection in a way that is cohesive and meaningful. It’s a story that relates to the dynamic nature of the habitats it portrays and offers a strong base for the zoo’s conservation and educational programs.
“The visitor path starts at a shallow tropical shore, follows a warm current into the melting pot of the deep ocean, and is carried via a cold current from the depths, through the ocean’s forests, emerging at a cool Pacific coast. Architectural cues such as changing light quality, spatial variation, and physical descent augment unique exhibit designs to engage visitor’s emotions, spark their curiosity, and build in them a passion for the ocean.”
Images: EHDD