Tropical Reef Exhibit, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Tacoma, Washington

The aquarium unifies architecture, exhibitry, and site design to tell the story of marine life in the South Pacific through a transect of a typical tropical reef. Entering at a researchers’ camp set in a lush tropical forest, the visitor arrives at a beach overlooking the inner lagoon with split-level viewing of colorful tropical fish. Descending through coral headlands and into a “blue hole”, the route emerges on the outer face of the reef and to views of a myriad of sharks and reef fish. The 13,000sf facility maintains 250,000 gallons of seawater and is connected to the adjacent Northwest Waters Aquarium.

Project credits: John Swanson, Principal, Lead Designer while with Portico, Inc.; Fred Redmon, Project Manager, Architect

PDZA: Rocky Shore
Tacoma, Washington

The Rocky Shore Complex is credited as a forerunner of replicated  naturalistic habitat for marine mammals and alcids. It features a northwest forested switch back trail that descends  through rocky cliffs to the rugged  shore edge below.  Access through a sea arch provides entry to a central underwater viewing room that’s  surrounded on all sides by water. Full width floor to ceiling glass enables up-close viewing of typical coastal settings, including: the rocky seamount shores with its  sea lions, walruses and  tide pools;  kelp forest filled with playful sea otters; cliff edge nesting puffins and rhinoceros auklets; and open water areas for dolphins/beluga whales. The construction of the artificial rockwork was by Jolly Miller.

Project credits: John Swanson, Lead Designer; Johnpaul Jones, Principal; Kai Mikami, Project Architect,while with Jones and Jones