August 29 marks one year since the Seattle Aquarium’s Ocean Pavilion opened its doors to the public for the first time, bringing the Coral Triangle to the Seattle waterfront.
“It’s incredible to see the awe in our guests as they are transported to such a magical part of the world, ” Peggy Sloan, Seattle Aquarium President and CEO, says. “Since opening last year, the Ocean Pavilion has provided meaningful experiences to help people see and feel how we’re all connected by our One Ocean and the steps we need to take to protect it. Feeling part of our one ocean ecosystem is a step towards caring about how to protect it.”
Calling the Ocean Pavilion home
Since opening last year, the Ocean Pavilion has welcomed more than one million guests to discover the wonders of the Indo-Pacific and come face to face with more than 5,000 animals and nearly 200 species, including Indo-Pacific leopard sharks, a blacktip reef shark, bowmouth guitarfish, leopard whiptail ray, spotted eagle rays, blue spotted stingrays, moray eels, and so much more.
“It’s been amazing working so closely with these animals, including endangered species such as the bowmouth guitarfish and Indo-Pacific leopard sharks,” Charmaine von Kriegenbergh, Associate Curator of Tropical Fish and Invertebrates, says. “Thanks to the tireless work put in by countless team members across the Aquarium this past year, we’ve welcomed even more animals to the Ocean Pavilion into habitats designed to provide exceptional care for their wellbeing, mirroring ecosystems found in Indonesia and throughout the Coral Triangle.”
Green design
Earlier this year, the Ocean Pavilion received LEED Gold certification, the world’s most widely used green building rating system. The strategies and solutions implemented by the Aquarium include operating 100% fossil fuel-free, recirculating 96% of the salt water in its habitats, recapturing heat from warm-water habitats to heat the building, and much more.
“We are so proud that the Aquarium’s Ocean Pavilion is one of only a few LEED certified aquariums in the U.S. It’s a key component of our mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment,” Peggy Sloan says.
Connecting us all
The Ocean Pavilion’s rooftop has also welcomed more than one million visitors, locals and tourists alike. The rooftop features a garden designed with guidance from traditional ecological knowledge-keeper Valerie Segrest and has become a space for free public programming through the Aquarium’s SEA You at the Waterfront activations.
The rooftop has transformed into a public park offering unparalleled views of the Seattle waterfront, while also fostering greater connections among us. Since the opening of the Ocean Pavilion’s rooftop and the city’s Overlook Walk project last year, the waterfront now links Pike Place Market and downtown Seattle in ways never seen before.
“Not only does Ocean Pavilion help us tell the story of how connected we are by our One Ocean; it’s also helping us connect our community in meaningful and powerful ways,” Peggy Sloan says. “The view and garden immerse people in the natural gifts of our surrounding waters and mountains. Anchoring people in a sense of place with our ocean at the center begins before they walk through our doors, thanks to the rooftop.”
You can learn more about the Ocean Pavilion and the animals calling the expansion home below and on our website.
About the Seattle Aquarium:
Founded in 1977, the Seattle Aquarium is a marine conservation organization working to regenerate the health of Earth’s one ocean. We work among global leaders to advance animal wellbeing, marine and ecosystem science, public policy, field conservation, education, and species recovery programs that benefit the ocean. Help support the Aquarium’s mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment.
On the web: SeattleAquarium.org
On Facebook: facebook.com/Aquarium.Seattle
On Instagram: instagram.com/seattleaquarium
On Youtube: youtube.com/seattleaquarium
