Alaska SeaLife Center officials plan to open a new exhibit, the 1,100-gallon interactive Rocky Coast Discovery Pool, in the spring of 2021.
The exhibit was inspired by various Association of Zoos and Aquariums facilities around the country.
ASLC staff visited 20 touch pools from coast to coast to learn about emerging designs, program opportunities and staffing efficiencies.
“We wanted to make sure empathy was at the center of everything when it came to this new exhibit,” said Jeff Dillon, senior education manager. “From the design for staff and visitors, to accessibility and access, animal welfare and care, to best practices for exploring in the wild.”
Orchestrating transport of exhibit materials and maneuvering all elements within the building has involved some careful planning, said Caryn Fosnaugh, operations director. Organizers took a creative approach, using the Alaska Marine Highway System to transport flooring from Juneau to Whittier, and a partnership of four organizations to design, fabricate, inspect, package and ship six tanks from California through the Inside Passage which is known for rough winter seas and storms, Fosnaugh said. Touch pool tanks are to be shipped to Alaska on Wednesday, March 17.
Funding for development of the touch pool took several years to gather. An anonymous foundation donation in 2017 allowed ASLC to hire an engineering firm to create the technical specifications and plans. Further financial support for the exhibit was secured in 2019 from ConocoPhillips Alaska, First National Bank Alaska, Matson, Petro Marine Services, Shoreside Petroleum, and the Lindsey Family with Matson additionally donating a significant portion of tank transportation.
