Mystic Aquarium unveils major renovation and expansion plan
Mystic — This winter’s groundbreaking for a new $ 5 million research facility and Monday’s announcement of a new 30-species frog exhibit to open Memorial Day weekend are the initial phases of what Mystic Aquarium officials envision as a $25 million to $50 million update of the institution and its exhibits over the next decade.
Preliminary designs call for the possible introduction of new animals such as otters, new species of penguins and sharks, puffins, elephant seals, Arctic foxes, sea birds, owls and eagles.
Stephen Coan, the president of the Sea Research Foundation, the aquarium’s parent organization, and other
aquarium officials outlined the aquarium’s master plan, called “One Ocean, One Mission,” during a meeting in his office late last week. The aquarium completed a $50 million renovation and expansion in 1999 that updated all of the facility’s exhibits, created a new entrance pavilion and built the Institute for Exploration that featured the expeditions of Titanic discoverer Robert Ballard.
Since then, the aquarium has opened other new exhibits featuring alligators and rays and renovated the Institute for Exploration into the Ocean Exploration Center after Ballard ended his 15-year relationship with the aquarium in 2014 to focus on his many other endeavors.
“The facility is 45 years old. It’s very much in need of an update in terms of our infrastructure,” Coan said.
The aquarium spent a year developing a master plan to guide it mission and future development with input from aquarium industry and community leaders, staff, volunteer, donors and its Board of Trustees.
“This exercise has underscored our collective and unwavering desire to continue building an organization that is iconic to New England and is an active contributor to our region’s economic and environmental success, all the while growing and enhancing our international role and the impact of our mission,” state the introduction to the strategic plan. “Our strategic plan envisions renewed focus on the Mystic Aquarium brand and facilities, while strengthening our mission programs — conservation, education, exhibits and research — under an interdisciplinary and highly collaborative model entitled “One Ocean. One Mission.”
One of the first projects being planned is the repair and enclosure of the now open-air entrance pavilion to include indoor ticketing and exhibits for visitors as they arrive. Renowned architect Cesar Pelli designed the pavilion built in 1999.
“We want to create a more exciting entry for our guests,” Coan said.
A new entryway will lead to the main aquarium and marine theater. The courtyard area outside the restaurant, which will also be expanded, will be covered. There will be more open areas and improvements are planned to make it easier for visitors to get around the aquarium.
Keith Sorenson, the aquarium’s vice president for facilities and capital projects, said a new building would also be constructed at the front of the aquarium, which would free up office and other space for more exhibits in the main aquarium.
The aquarium’s existing exhibits and marine theater with its California sea lion shows will be overhauled, and renovations made to the outdoor pools and exhibits.
Larry Rivarde, the aquarium’s senior vice president for zoological operations and business development, said that when it comes to its collection of aquatic animals, the aquarium looked at “how can we make it more dynamic, fun and entertaining.”
He said the renovation of the main aquarium will offer an “almost brand new experience for visitors.”
The large coral reef exhibit in the middle of the main aquarium will be enhanced with colorful new animals and improved lighting and new sharks added to a nearby exhibit.
The new 1,000-square-foot frog exhibit, which is under construction and was announced Monday on Leap Day, will feature more than 30 different species of frogs and other amphibians from around the world. The strategic plans recommends a focus on frogs and amphibians because their habitats are every threatened.
The exhibit, will include dart frogs, African clawed frogs, fire-bellied toads, giant waxy monkey frogs, golden poison frogs, lemur leaf frogs, ornate horned frogs, red- eye tree frogs, tomato frogs and socalled "bird poop" frogs. There will be hands- on and digital interactive experiences. About a decade ago the aquarium featured frogs and amphibians in an exhibit that recreated a science research station in the Louisiana bayou.
The aquarium said the new exhibit “will educate guests about the many reasons why amphibians around the world are in peril, what they can do to help protect them, and how they can join Mystic Aquarium in its effort to conserve our local species.”
Rivarde said the aquarium is also considering adding harbor seals to the Arctic Coast exhibit to swim with the belugas. New species of penguins found in the Antarctic are planned to be added to the exhibit that features African penguins.
The aquarium faces challenges when it comes to maintaining it collection of Steller sea lions and beluga whales, as the population of those animals in zoos and aquariums declines and “the avenues for importation and breeding are limited or non existent,” according to the strategic plan. The aquarium owns just one beluga whale and relies on loans from other facilities to populate its Arctic Coast Exhibit.
The plans states that while reintroducing dolphins to the aquarium has been suggested, the “extreme capital requirements of more than $50 million and the often unfavorable public attention, render them implausible at this time.”
Dolphins were once among the most popular attractions at the aquarium, but they have not been part of aquarium’s collection since 2001, when the remaining two dolphins were moved to other institutions. Animal rights groups would likely protest if dolphins were brought back.
Coan said the aquarium is actively raising money for the various projects, which would be constructed in phases. The aquarium would remain open during the work.
“We’ll do the work as money is raised,” he said.
Coan said the aquarium would also seek state and federal funding but acknowledged such funding could be in short supply. The state of Connecticut provided $ 37 million in loans and grants for the 1999 project.