Seattle aquarium expansion brings forth sustainable practices

by tanya_martins | October 29, 2024 3:13 pm

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The Seattle Aquarium recently underwent its first substantial expansion since 2007 with the addition of the new Ocean Pavilion.

The 4,645 m² (50,000 sf) project has been designed by LMN Architects in collaboration with Thinc Design. It features immersive habitats, back-of-house elements, educational spaces, and views of the surrounding natural landscape and the urban waterfront.

The project’s primary building materials include locally sourced wood, concrete, curtain walls, and composite metal panels.

Sustainable strategies have been employed in construction and include the use of recycled and healthy materials such as carpeting created from abandoned fishing nets and used water bottles, building electrification and the elimination of fossil fuels, reducing embodied carbon via material strategies including low-carbon concrete mix designs, reducing operational carbon by heat sharing between the building and life support systems, and water reduction via a semi-closed system that optimizes seawater usage.

Ocean Pavilion links downtown Seattle, Pike Place Market, the newly revitalized Elliot Bay, and the ocean.

It is targeting LEED Gold and International Living Future Institute’s (ILFI’s) Zero Carbon certification.

Source URL: https://www.constructionspecifier.com/seattle-aquarium-expansion-brings-forth-sustainable-practices/

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