Construction of the new facility, which will include a new aquarium, theatre, classrooms and a lab, will begin in the spring, with the aquarium set to open in June 2011.The cost of the new centre is $8 million, with $5 million of that contributed from the federal and provincial governments, and the remainder being raised by the Huntsman. With $1 million already raised through previous fund-raising, the Seal the Deal campaign was launched in October to find the additional $2 million needed. That campaign has already reached the $600,000 mark, and efforts to reach the goal are ongoing.
The designs for the 20,000 square-feet, two-storey building are still subject to some minor changes prior to construction beginning, the start of which will be the tear down of the old aquarium in mid-March. The old aquarium was opened in 1972. There will be a temporary aquarium at the Huntsman for the 2010 season, with the main attractions of the lobsters, harbour seals Loki and Snorkel, the sturgeon and the touch pool all available for visitors to see.
