New England Aquarium
Boston, Massachusetts

Since opening in 1969, the New England Aquarium had become an international tourist attraction and won worldwide acclaim as the prototype of the modern aquarium.

But the organization was not about to rest on its laurels. For its thirtieth anniversary, the aquarium would expand its mission and facilities and once again take a leadership position as a harbinger of aquariums to come.

Aside from space for larger tanks and exciting new exhibits, the very character of the aquarium would need to be transformed.

The old aquarium sought to transport visitors to an underwater world, seemingly detached from life on the surface. The new aquarium shows the interrelationship of the human and marine environments and conveys the site's connection to its position at the edge of Boston Harbor.

The building now offers views of the city on one side and the ocean and shore on the other. The structure seems to beckon to passers-by with its outstretched wings. Steel shingles reflect the sunlight and shimmer like the scales of an enormous fish. Glass enables viewers to catch glimpses of the interior while also letting plenty of light into the building.

Oceanic motifs are used throughout the space. Oversized vents in the entrance lobby suggest giant barnacles on the bow of a ship, and the gift shop is lit with modified divers' lamps.

In a departure from aquariums of the past, guests can observe staff at work in the Aquarium Medical Center or play a simulated game in which they must safeguard the creatures in a marine sanctuary. The "Go With the Flow" exhibit further links the site to Boston by showing how humans' water and sewer use affects the environment and ecosystems of Boston Harbor.