Great Lakes Aquarium at The Lake Superior Center
Duluth, MinnesotaThe Great Lakes Aquarium's mission is to increase the appreciation of freshwater as a precious resource on Earth. Just as Lake Superior, which contains 10%25 of the world's surface water, serves as a lens for interpreting the role of freshwater on our planet the Aquarium serves as the vehicle to refocus attention to the Lake. Sited on the Minnesota harbor front in Duluth, the Aquarium engages visitors from all directions. The exterior of the building utilizes metal panels to recall the industrial vernacular found along the North Shore of Lake Superior. The dynamic form with its colors and materials acts as a billboard on the Duluth harbor. Utilizing a variety of materials and colors, the building's main volumes highlight its various functions on the interior. The entrance draws the visitor into the lobby, dominated by a water wall, and through an experiential escalator ride up to the Origins exhibit concluded by a dramatic view of the harbor and the aerial lift bridge. The main exhibit bar holds the large aquaria and faces the vast body of the Lake. The 61,000 SF building has exhibits that cover all aspects of Lake Superior. The focus of the main bar is its habitats - five large tanks that highlight different areas of the Lake and natural conditions including wildlife, vegetation, and geology. The central tank, Isle Royale, houses 80,000 gallons of water with large fish of the lake.