SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday ahead of the official grand opening of the new Mote Science Education Aquarium (SEA) on Oct. 8.
The event honored decades of leadership and philanthropy that paved the way for the 146,000-square-foot facility at 225 University Town Center Drive in Sarasota. Former directors, longtime trustees, and the Benderson family, credited with a central role in funding the project, were recognized during the program.
Dr. Michael P. Crosby, Mote’s president and CEO, called the aquarium a bridge between research, education, and public engagement. “Mote SEA is much more than just an aquarium; it stands at the intersection of paradigm-changing research, science education, and community engagement,” Crosby said…