![]() Most city aquariums not only put on a large display of marine life but also incorporate a research and science mission that helps to preserve the marine ecosystem. It also may be the enjoyment of interacting with stingrays in the touch tank or smiling at the playfulness of marine mammals like seals, sea otters, and dolphins. Maybe it’s watching something totally foreign like a pulsing jellyfish or the alien but graceful movements of the octopus. Marine aquariums have always scored high marks with young families. There are a number of ways that a young family can stay busy while in the area, and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium ranks chief among them. But that doesn’t mean that it’s absent of family activities. ![]() Located on the gulf coast, it is where the adults come to play when in Central Florida. PENEBAR SW-55 waterstop was installed along the construction joints to ensure watertight joints and a combination of PENETRON and PENECRETE MORTAR was used to patch the water tank tie-holes and for minor repairs to the concrete.Featured Image courtesy of Clearwater Marine AquariumĬlearwater, Florida, is best known for its deep, white sand beaches, fishing charters, and water sports activities. Over 3,500 cubic yards (2,700 m 3) of treated concrete were used for all the new water tanks and water containment areas, as well as components of the new parking garage. “Penetron crystalline technology turned out to be the ideal solution for the Clearwater site.”Īrgos USA, a ready-mix supplier in Tampa, Florida, added PENETRON ADMIX to the concrete during the batching phase. “With so many large saltwater tanks, a reliable and durable waterproofing solution was an obvious priority for Fisher Architects, the CMA project designers,” says Christopher Chen. This exposure leaves the reinforcing steel in the concrete at risk to corrosion and expansive cracking, which can quickly lead to premature deterioration and structural failure. However, concrete structures in marine environments risk reduced life spans due to rapid deterioration from waterborne chlorides that penetrate the concrete. The CMA can now enlarge their rescue and rehabilitation efforts and also create an enhanced living habitat for the resident animals and provide more space for guest patients.Ĭoncrete has been successfully used as the main construction material for aquariums, seawalls, breakwaters, bulkheads, jetties – all constantly exposed to saltwater. The latest expansion triples the size of the rescued dolphin habitat, which now consists of five connecting pools (total: approximately 1,500,000 US gallons/5,700,000 liters of water), a new hospital facility, larger education areas (total space: 103,000 ft 2/9,400 m 2), and a new four-level parking garage with 400 parking spots. Both films were shot partially on location at the aquarium. This brought worldwide attention to the CMA and Winter later starred in the 2011 film, Dolphin Tale, and the sequel, Dolphin Tale 2. Her injuries resulted in the loss of her tail so the aquarium fitted her with a prosthetic tail. The aquarium's most famous resident is Winter, a bottlenose dolphin who was caught in a crab trap and rescued. ![]() These include North American river otters, Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, green sea turtles, Kemp's Ridley sea turtles, cownose rays, southern stingrays, nurse sharks, great white pelicans, and other fish, including gag, hogfish, and red drum. It’s actually a rescue and recovery facility for marine animals, such as dolphins and sea turtles, to rehabilitate and prepare them for release back into their natural habitats,” explains Christopher Chen, Director of The Penetron Group.ĭue to serious injuries that prevent their return to the wild, many of the rescued animals are now permanent CMA residents and will not be released back into their previous habitats. “The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is not exactly like the aquariums we are familiar with. The CMA first opened in 1972 in a former water treatment plant (the large pools are ideal for rehabilitation programs). CMA staff also help educate the public about marine habitats and wildlife, as well as their work in animal-assisted therapy and research. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick and injured marine animals. Penetron crystalline technology provided the durability the architect was looking for. Officially completed in August 2020, the expansion project for the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida needed a reliable waterproofing solution to protect the new concrete structures from the saltwater environment.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |