The Seattle Aquarium plans to open its new Ocean Pavilion expansion next month, completing a key piece of long-term plans to transform the city’s waterfront .
Why it matters: The new building on Elliott Bay will include a landscaped public rooftop, elevators and stairs to help connect the waterfront with Pike Place Market — a change made possible by the demolition of the Alaskan Way viaduct in 2019.
Driving the news: The new addition will open to the public Aug. 29, featuring about 3,500 marine animals and plants.
- The expansion will measure nearly 50,000 square feet , increasing the aquarium’s overall footprint by about 50%, the aquarium said.
What’s inside: A reef ecosystem will showcase Indo-Pacific leopard sharks, spotted eagle rays and schools of tropical fish.
- Visitors will also be able to visit a jellyfish nursery and a shoreline mangrove forest, among other exhibits.
1 fun thing: While exploring the inside of the facility will require tickets , the outdoor plaza near the front of the building will let passersby peek into the reef habitat for free, through an oculus measuring 17.5-feet wide.