Utah Aquarium Board of Trustees Selects Architectural Firm and Commercial Contractor for New Building

SANDY, Utah, Jan. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Living Planet Aquarium board of trustees selected Beecher Walker Architects and Layton Construction for the development, design and construction of the new Living Planet Aquarium, to be built in Draper City.

The Living Planet Aquarium solicited statements of interest and qualifications from top design teams and commercial contractors recognized for strong experience to develop a complete design and structure for the 130,000-square-foot building off Interstate 15 near 12300 South, which will be the permanent home for the popular non-profit attraction. "The new Board, consisting of seasoned executives, is excited with the tremendous progress made by the aquarium in the last two years, including fund raising, state appropriations and land acquisition," said Ragula Bhaskar, Ph.D., Chairman of the Board. "The aquarium has raised nearly $7 million and has obtained the support of the City of Draper to bond $11.7 million to complete the Aquarium. It is expected to be one of the best aquariums in the Intermountain West," said Bhaskar.

The Aquarium has continued to grow since opening in a small space in 2004 at The Gateway and, since 2006, in Sandy at 725 E. 10600 South. The current 43,000-square-foot aquarium in Sandy lands over 375,000 visitors each year, and provides science education to elementary schools statewide. With the tremendous growth, donor support and a strong leadership team, the aquarium has grown over 50% during the recession, confirming its popularity with local visitors and out-of-state tourists. "We are thrilled to be moving to the next phase in the creation of a 130,000-square-foot world-class aquarium for the residents of Utah," said Brent Andersen, Founder & CEO. "We have a remarkable board of trustees who have led the way in making the new, larger aquarium possible, and a dedicated team of staff, volunteers and donors working to build what is sure to become a renowned educational, family-friendly attraction," said Andersen. The $18 million project will support 317 construction jobs in Utah and generate $1.7 million in tax revenues for the State.

Tax-deductible donations can be made online at http://www.thelivingplanet.com or by mail to The Living Planet Aquarium, Attn: Development, 725 E 10600 S, Sandy, UT 84094.

Board of Trustees

Ragula Bhaskar, Ph.D., Chairman
Jim Loveland, Vice Chairman
Ryan Davies, Secretary
Kent Bowman, Treasurer
Ken Murdock, Chairman Emeritus
Linda Nelson, Trustee
Rep. Tim Cosgrove, Trustee
Paul Hutchinson, Trustee

The Living Planet Aquarium Mission Statement

The Living Planet Aquarium inspires people to explore, discover and learn about Earth's diverse ecosystems.

Photos:

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*Additional photos available upon request.

Contact: Angie Hyde
Director of PR and Marketing
801-712-3966
[email protected]

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SOURCE The Living Planet Aquarium