General contractor Brasfield & Gorrie joined Georgia Aquarium representatives, Atlanta public school students, and local community partners to break ground on the Aquarium’s Expansion 2020 project. The effort will change the face of the Aquarium by adding a new four-story structure that will complement the existing building’s iconic boat façade. It will also include a 1 million-gallon shark exhibit.
 
The shark exhibit will be the focal point of the 104,100 sq ft expansion. The new exhibit will be interactive and immersive, with a focus on expansive acrylic viewing areas and a number of animal interactions in the works, which will give guests the opportunity to get even closer to some of these fascinating animals. Once finalized, more details on these interactions will be released. In addition to the new exhibit, the expansion will include a new entrance and exit, office spaces, retail spaces, loading dock, and new ticketing services.
 
Brasfield & Gorrie has a longstanding relationship with Georgia Aquarium, which began with the facility’s original construction. Since the Aquarium’s 2005 opening, Brasfield & Gorrie has completed multiple expansions, including the ballroom renovation, the dolphin expansion, multiple marine life holding projects, the sea lion exhibit and the café renovation.
 
“Since breaking ground on the original Georgia Aquarium project in 2003, we have been fortunate enough to continue our work on the Georgia Aquarium campus and strengthen our relationship with this valued client. We look forward to bringing the Expansion 2020 project vision to reality,” said Brasfield & Gorrie Senior Project Manager Mark Crump.
 
“This will be one of our largest exhibits and one of the largest expansions we’ve done in our history,” said Georgia Aquarium President and COO Joe Handy. “We’re thrilled to be offering a grand new entrance that introduces our visitors to the wonder and awe of the Aquarium, and to bring them closer to one of the most important species of the world’s ocean.”
 
Brasfield & Gorrie is collaborating with Peckham, Guyton, Alberts & Viets Architects on this project, which is slated for completion in late 2020.