Shark Exhibit Gets Top AZA Honors

Ocean Wonders: Sharks!, which opened in June 2018, was designed by MIG | Portico and received a Top Honors Award for live animal display and exhibit design at this year’s AZA Annual Conference.

With over 500,000 gallons of water, the exhibit features nine galleries housing 115 species of marine life, including 18 species of sharks and rays—most found in the surrounding local waters. The exhibit takes visitors on a journey to learn about the sharks that live right off the shore of Coney Island, as well as the plight of sharks worldwide and programs to help save these critically important species. Outside the building, a gently sloping spiral ramp unveils magnificent ocean views and leads visitors to a roof deck with classrooms, interactive exhibits and a café.

The three-story, 57,000 square-foot aquarium is the first major project to be implemented from the New York Aquarium Master Plan, which MIG | Portico completed in 2003. The facility has received a LEED Silver Certification, achieved through multiple strategies related to water efficiency, sustainable sites, materials and energy management. The building and the exhibits were designed by MIG | Portico as the lead design consultant in a collaborative effort between the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Design Department.