The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas will close at the end of the month to begin a $41 million dollar renovation that will move the Audubon Insectarium and Butterfly Garden into the facility, as well as upgrade many of the aquarium's existing galleries.
The work will tear down the IMAX theater to make room for the bug exhibits. The entire facility will be closed for approximately six months.
"The result will be a transformation of the 30-year-old Aquarium facility into a dynamic, cutting-edge attraction in keeping with the revitalized Canal Street riverfront," said Audubon Nature Institute President and CEO Ron Forman. "Audubon is looking forward to its next chapter, creating an experience that illuminates visitor’s relationship with the natural world and how their actions can do a world of good."
The work will add 17,000 square feet of new exhibit space, and the entrance to the aquarium will be moved downriver to create a shared entryway and lobby to the combined facility, which will be called the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium.
There will also be changes made to Woldenberg Park, which sits on the riverfront between the aquarium and the Mississippi River. New landscaping and upgraded electrical infrastructure will enhance the park's ability to serve as a venue for festivals and other performances.
Audubon Nature Institute
Audubon Nature Institute
Audubon Nature Institute
