The Greater Cleveland Aquarium is not your typical aquarium and presented several challenges and opportunities when integrating the aquarium into the restoration of the historic FirstEnergy Powerhouse building. In 2013 the Aquarium received an award for best adaptive use from the Cleveland Restoration Society.
We embraced the Powerhouse’s rich history, highlighting its steel girders, exposed brick walls, coal tunnels, and smokestacks. The structure, architecture and character of the building became our inspiration - the iconic smokestacks are now home to moon jellyfish, and archways that were used as coal chutes now hold multiple exhibits.
With 3.78 million litres of water housing more than 2,700 animals from 320 different species, we designed many of the exhibits in the 8 thematic zones to offer unique views of the animals – including a 41,640 litre touch pool inhabited by cownose, southern and Atlantic stingrays and a 53 meter underwater tunnel that takes you through an 870,000 litre tank where barracuda, pufferfish, angelfish and 3 species of shark swim beside and above you.
Visitors can be educated about marine conservation efforts as the aquarium has partnered with several local and state-wide organizations to preserve the future of the native but threatened spotted turtle population in Northeast Ohio.
During its first year of operation, the Greater Cleveland Aquarium welcomed over 400,000 people through its doors, and there have been nearly 2 million visitors to the aquarium since it opened its doors in 2012.
Featuring daily interactive experiences including aquarist talks, animal encounters, SCUBA diver underwater talks and exhibit feedings, the Greater Cleveland Aquarium offers something for all guests. The aquarium also offers SCUBA-certified divers the opportunity to dive in its Shark Gallery through its Shark Dive CLE program.
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