The designs for the $65 million Mississippi Aquarium planned for downtown Gulfportwas revealed to the general public at a meeting on Friday.
200 people gathered as Mayor Billy Hewes, Gov. Phil Bryant and othersdetailed the plans for the new aquarium and discussed the many benefits it will bring to the Gulfport region.
Gulfport and a Unique Aquarium
Aquarium expertDavid Kimmelwas in attendance.Hiscompany, Georgia-basedKimmel Management Services was recently chosen by the city to develop and manage the new aquarium.He said that one key aspect that would set the aquarium apart from its competitors would beits campus-style design. Itsanchor outdoor exhibit willbe another unique feature.
Most aquariums, Kimmel said, are in one building.However, Gulfport'snewAquarium will comprisefour buildingstogether withan outdoor exhibit as the anchor.The latter is feasible owing to the region'smild climate.
St. Louis-based architects PGAV Destinations designed the aquarium. The build emphasises thenatural environment and the flow of water from rivers to the sea.Upon arriving, visitors will encounter a river exhibit which affords them views both above and below the watervia acrylic walls, a feature that is repeated throughout the aquarium, both indoor and outdoor.The river will showcase ottersandalligators alongside regionalfreshwaterfish. A dolphin exhibit is sitedat the opposite end.
The Gulf Community Gallery, a three storey structure, will have one body of water with a dozen different views. The top will be a touch pool includinga stingray exhibit. Visitors will be surrounded by ashark exhibit with acrylic walls.
Kimmel said, "What acrylic allows us to do, is get people immersed in the exhibit itself."
Other buildings on the the campus will include an entry building, an aviary and a life support building to maintain water quality.
Big Projects are not for the Faint of Heart
The city already has the $40 million for construction and estimates a further$20 million will be needed to create theexhibitsand source the animals.Construction in Gulfportshould commencein spring 2017, when engineering and other preliminary work is finished.
Architect David Hardy of Coast firm Eley Guild Hardy, who also worked on the design along with PGAV Destinations, said the aquarium should be stocked with animals in the Autumnof 2018.The attraction willbe openin early 2019.
Bryant told the crowd, "Big projects are not for the faint of heart.We can do what we imagine. Not only do we want to do it, we must do it. Can you imagine that we are on the Mississippi Gulf Coast without an aquarium?"
Gulfportpreviously had an aquarium but this had been deystroyed byHurricane Katrina.
Hews expects thenew Mississippi Aquariumto attractup to half a millionvisitors a year.
David Rosenberg, Vice President of Guest Experience
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