Cloward H2O, experts in aquatic design, announce the successful redesign and reopening of the historic Manhattan Beach Aquarium. The complete overhaul brings this visitor attraction up to date for the 21st Century.
The Manhattan Beach Aquarium is located in a unique octagonal building at the end of a 1920’s era boardwalk. The protected structure originally served as a dance hall and measures only 2,200 square feet (200 square metres). The team managed to fit a range of up to date technology into the existing space, between rafters and inside walls, without altering the exterior of the building.
The Aquarium has provided quality, free marine education to visitors for almost 40 years. The venue welcomes a wide range of visitors, from tourists to local schools and community groups. The site is valued by the local community, who contributed towards the upkeep costs through donations. An upgrade was much needed however, as the site was becoming dated. This was made possible by a generous $4 million donation from the Harrison Greenberg Foundation.
“The Roundhouse is an iconic gem of our community and its imperative that we continue to protect this aquarium from the elements so that it can share its teachings with our children and our children’s children,” Michael Greenberg, said in a statement. The Sketchers President started the foundation in memory of his son, who passed away on a trip to Thailand in 2015.
An all-new aquarium experience
Cloward H2O worked alongside Architecture firm CambridgeSeven Associates on the project. The company worked to fully engineer and redesign the entire interior of the aquarium. The site now boasts all-new exhibits, new mechanical and life support systems, and new municipal utility systems. It houses 14 oceanic tanks, two fresh water tanks, and a touch tank featuring 75 species of marine life, including sharks, jellyfish, moray eels, and much more.
The revitalized aquarium reopened on November 5, 2018, and since then has enjoyed many visitors. It provides a service to over 14,000 students per year from nearby Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
Cloward H2O has recently started work on a new project in Oklahoma City. The Riverside Rapids visitor attraction is undergoing an upgrade to improve the guest experience, as well as power efficiency and water quality management.
