Aquarium Renovations Reach Milestone
Renovation of the Toledo Zoo’s historic Aquarium reached a milestone with the arrival of custom-designed acrylic panels for 13 of the new exhibits. The panels, which will provide clear visitor viewing into the exhibits, range in size according to the exhibit. The largest panel, for a shark/ray exhibit, measures 25 feet long and 7 feet tall, is four inches thick, and weighs 7,000 pounds.
Some of the acrylic panels fit through the Aquarium’s doors, but others – like those for the Pacific reef tank – are so bulky that the only way to get them inside was to hoist them through the Aquarium’s open roof using a crane.
Getting the panels inside the Aquarium was a crucial step in forming new exhibits inside the building. The next step is to install the acrylic panels and glaze them, or seal them into place at their exhibits. After allowing the glaze to cure for 28 days, construction crews will start testing the exhibits to be sure that they are water-tight. Then the crews begin a meticulous process of constructing the exhibits and preparing them to house the Aquarium animals.
One of the last Zoo structures built by Works Progress Administration (WPA) crews, the Aquarium originally opened in 1939 and was one of the largest freshwater aquariums in the world. Preserving the building’s external architectural heritage is an important part of the renovations, while introducing dynamic new features like floor-to-ceiling exhibits, touch tanks and expanded visitor interaction.
The Aquarium closed to the public in late 2012 to begin the renovations; it is scheduled to reopen in the first half of 2015. These renovations are possible thanks to Lucas County voters’ successful passage of the Zoo’s 2006 capital levy, which has been enhanced by generous private donors contributing to this world-class project.
Press Release Contact Name: Andi Norman
Press Release Contact Email: [email protected]
Organization Name: Toledo Zoo
Organization Address: Toledo, OH