North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
Director’s Update
March 3, 2004
Progress continues on the Aquarium’s $24 million renovation
and expansion. Clancy and Theys Construction has mobilized
crews and has the project well under way. Clearing and grading
activities have prepared the site for the building addition
and new parking areas. Demolition crews have removed interior
walls, ducts and fixtures from the existing building, and
opened up the structure for future construction. An addition
to the Snake Exhibit building is about to begin, and the contractor
continues to set the stage for the underground footings and
piping that will be needed for the main building.
The contractor has a large task of reading
through and understanding over 600 oversized pages of detailed
drawings prepared by BMS Architects of Wilmington. These drawings
not only provide the dimensions and building materials to
be used, but also describe the linkage between complex systems
found throughout the Aquarium. Electrical, mechanical, and
structural details are provided in the blueprints, just as
they would be for a “traditional” building.
But the Aquarium structure will be unique, featuring special
piping for saltwater intake, life support components and ozone
gas, as well as detailed specifications for uncommon features
such as huge acrylic tank windows, fiberglass shipwrecks,
and a 30-foot waterfall over artificial rock.
Fortunately, Clancy and Theys is familiar with these kinds
of specialty exhibits. They built the recently-expanded NC
Aquarium at Fort Fisher, and for their efforts on that project,
they received the prestigious Pinnacle Best Building Project
Award from the Carolinas AGC (Associated General Contractors).
Meanwhile, the Aquarium staff is settling
in to its new quarters in Atlantic Station Shopping Center
in Atlantic Beach. After a frantic few weeks of moving and
organizing, the staff has established offices and a warehouse
facility in the back of the old “Pak-A-Sak” grocery
store. Work continues on the warehouse space, with the installation
of trench drains and a saltwater supply system. By early summer,
dozens of tanks will be ready to accept new specimens collected
from the North Carolina coast and across the state.
Though the Atlantic Station facility will not have exhibits
for public viewing, the Aquarium will offer educational programs
and field trip opportunities. Canoe trips, cooking classes,
and Onboard cruises are some of the special activities offered
for the general public. For more information on these, see
our Programs and Events
page.
For more information on school outreach programs, which include
live animals in the classroom, visit our Outreach page.
Our mailing address and phone numbers remain the same: Contact
Us.
I will continue to keep you updated on our progress. Check
back often for the latest news!
Sincerely,
Jay Barnes
Director, North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
