Crews have begun laying steel and building columns as the $50 million expansion at the Texas State Aquarium takes shape.
Workers also are making progress on a shark exhibit as the scheduled spring 2017 opening for the Caribbean Journey expansion approaches, the Corpus Christi Caller-Times reported.
The expansion will add 65,000 square feet and will double the aquarium's animal collection. Vice president and chief operating officer Jesse Gilbert said they have secured $41 million for the project so far and that the aquarium is on "track timeline wise" for the expansion.
"It's an interesting building, there are a lot of moving parts to it," he said. "Not only do we have sharks and fish and everything that swims, but now we have a large bird collection, mammal collection and a botanical collection that the aquarium has never had to house. So a lot of things had to fall into place."
The aquarium's new wing will have three levels, with the first floor including fish tanks and a 100-seat 4-D theater.
The second level will feature interactive jungle exhibits, while the top level will mostly be event space with windows providing sweeping views of the aquarium grounds and the Corpus Christi Ship Channel.
"There's a lot of work going on this fall and winter to make sure we are absolutely ready to open in spring 2017," Gilbert said.
