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Seattle Aquarium expansion gets $1 million boost

The Ocean Pavilion is scheduled to open in 2024.

A rendering of a new addition for the Seattle Aquarium picturing various underwater habitats in an indoor pavilion

When complete, the new habitats will be home to hundreds of species.

Photo via LMN Architects

Seems like $1 million can buy a lot of fish. Vancouver, WA-based M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust just made that whale-sized donation to the Seattle Aquarium to help fund its upcoming Ocean Pavilion, scheduled to open in 2024.

The aquarium’s expansion includes a 50,000-sqft exhibit area and a 360,000-gallon habitat to house the likes of sharks, rays, schooling fish, and ~30 species of coral. (No word on a real-life Kraken, but we can dream.)

Visitors will soon be able to check out the shiny new pavilion adjacent to the Seattle Aquarium. Construction began in 2020 and is currently in the final phase of a four-step process.

Other upcoming milestones for the aquarium project:

  • Creating a new west end of Pier 59 with Puget Sound views
  • Expanding the Salish Sea education + conservation programs
  • Transforming Pier 60 into a living habitat for local coast animals, shorebirds, and fish

Can’t wait to dive in.

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