The Seattle Aquarium is undertaking the most ambitious campaign in our history.
Donor support is critical to making this vision a reality: starting with the Ocean Pavilion, the first phase of our transformation. With support from our philanthropic community, we are making a $160 million investment in becoming the world’s first planet-positive, regenerative Aquarium.
Through a multiphase, organization-wide transformation of our physical campus and our programming, we will significantly expand our work—engaging more than 1.5 million people every year in robust ocean conservation
education and inspiring encounters with marine life. Through this historic effort, we will cultivate an ocean ethic—an ethos of care and action on behalf of marine life—for generations to come.
Our Progress
$40.3 million has been raised toward the private philanthropy goal of $80 million from 250 donors.
$51.1 million has been secured from all government sources including state, county, city and the Port of Seattle toward the government goal of $80 million.
This project is a statement of our region’s values, represents an important investment in our future, and squarely puts Washington at the heart of a movement that reminds us, no oceans, no life.
The Ocean Pavilion will invite visitors to explore new corners of our one world ocean and understand how our actions from Seattle to Indonesia affect our shared communities and planet. This new global focus will significantly expand and complement our current conservation and education efforts focused on Pacific Northwest marine life. The Ocean Pavilion’s revolutionary design will also lead the way in next-generation sustainability standards for climate impact, energy, and water use – and its presence as a civic landmark will enliven Seattle’s waterfront and bring our community together as never before.
Designed in partnership with our local Coast Salish communities, leading-edge sustainable design experts, city planners, and others, the Ocean Pavilion reflects an ambitious, shared vision to create a hopeful, flourishing future for our ocean, our city, and our world.
The first phase of our transformation will:
- Create the new Ocean Pavilion: an iconic center for ocean advocacy that will invite visitors to explore new corners of our ocean and understand how our actions affect our ocean and planet.
- Expand our conservation initiatives, strengthening connections between local communities across the Pacific and catalyzing efforts to build a shared ocean ethic.
- Become the world’s first planet-positive, regenerative Aquarium campus with next-generation sustainability standards for climate impact, energy and water use.
Future campaign phases will:
- Fully revitalize our current Aquarium with a new west end that opens onto Puget Sound, allowing visitors to walk out and view the water.
- Transform community spaces on and around Pier 60 into a living habitat for Puget Sound animals, shorebirds, fish and people.
- Expand our species recovery efforts to build healthy populations of marine plants and animals in the Pacific Northwest and around the world.
- Create a robust education and interpretation experience inside and outside the Aquarium to connect even more people with the ocean and deepen our civic impact.