She’s up to the challenge
New Maritime Aquarium president banks on its future
NORWALK — Maureen Hanley, the newly hired president and chief executive officer of the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, says she likes a challenge.
The state intends to tear down the theater’s IMAX Theater to rebuild the Walk Bridge, which bisects the aquarium campus at 10 North Main St. On Nov. 12, the aquarium received bids from contractors interested in building a new 4D theater and exhibit space to replace that lost to the bridge project.
“What the aquarium is facing over the next five years, it’s substantial,” Hanley said. “And my skill set is perfect for what the needs of the aquarium are, which are financial, fundraising and construction.”
On Tuesday afternoon, Hanley gave Hearst Connecticut Media a walking tour of the aquarium and spoke about her shortand long- term goals for Norwalk’s foremost tourist attraction. The aquarium drew 477,820 visitors in 2017, according to its annual report.
During her first two days on the job, Hanley said she toured the Aquarium, spoke with its senior staff, began reviewing bids for the estimated $ 34.5 million theater- andexhibit replacement project, and met with Connecticut Department of Transportation officials.
‘Functional replacement’ planned
The DOT plans to begin the estimated $ 736 million bridge replacement in fall 2019 and take four to five years to complete the project.
The aquarium’s approved “functional replacement” of spaces lost to the bridge project calls for a two- story, 11,939square-foot addition to the east of the existing main entrance. The addition will house the new theater, entrance lobby, ticket area and other space.
The aquarium will build a two- story, 8,748square-foot addition on the east side of the existing building to house the seals. It will replace the tent structure and exhibits along the Norwalk River. A one- story west entry hall with fish tank and 8,241- square-foot mezzanine area will be built along North Water Street.
Aquarium officials have targeted October 2019 as the opening the 4D Theater. Asked Tuesday when ground will be broken, Hanley said timelines had not been finalized — “there’s a lot of moving parts” — but added the goal is to open the new theater before the old one is razed.
“We’re hoping to be open to the public before the demolition of the IMAX. That’s the plan,” said Hanley, looking out her office window at the area where the 4D theater will be built. “The state is working very closely with us and they’re mindful of the impacts to the aquari- um.”
Some exhibits to relocate
Hanley said “great care” has been taken with the HVAC system, sound monitoring and dust mitigation to protect animals during the construction. In-house and outside staff have monitored and tested the animals, according to officials.
“Externally, we had some folks from Penn State come and get some baseline research on animal behaviors and fish behaviors, so we’ll be able to see if there’s changes in their behavior,” said spokesman Dave Sigworth.
Open since 1988, the aquarium now boasts 75 live exhibits featuring more than 2,700 marine animals of 300 species, including sharks, sea turtles, harbor seals, river otters and various rays.
“Definitely my daughter’s favorite,” said Hanley, standing beside the shark and ray touch pool while recalling her first visit to the aquarium. “Twenty-eight years ago with my oldest, my daughter, and she’s a preschool teacher now.”
Some exhibits will move temporarily or permanently because of the bridge replacement. The "Go Fish" exhibit closed to reshape the space into a temporary home for the seals. The seals will move there in early January 2019, allowing construction to begin on a 150,000gallon, two- story enclosed seal habitat on the site of the seals’ current display in Newman’s Own Hall.
In addition, the secondfloor PlaySpace for toddlers will close in Decem- ber so construction can begin on a replacement “Meerkats” exhibit.
Post-construction vision
Looking past the construction period, Hanley said she hopes to help raise money to “refresh” the exhibits, bring them into the digital age, and introduce events geared toward millennials.
“Paint and sip, wine tasting, after-hour events that will reintroduce the aquarium to those generations. We have to come up with new and different ways of getting them indoors,” Hanley said. “And then they’ll come back with their kids.”
Hanley comes to the aquarium after a 24-year career in banking that focused on commercial lending. She worked as a senior vice president- team leader of United Bank. She previously was vice president, head of commercial real estate, at Fairfield County Bank and senior vice president and co-chairwoman of the SNE Diversity Council for Commerce Bank/TD Bank.
The 2008 recession, while not ending that career, set the stage for her to try something new when the opportunity presented itself. That occurred earlier this year when Aquarium President & CEO Brian Davis announced he would step down to return to the Georgia Aquarium. Hanley applied for the job.
“We have been making visits to the Maritime Aquarium a family tradition for years, so — while my new task is to understand and lead the aquarium as its president — I also know it as a mother,” Hanley said in a statement released by the aquarium upon her hiring.