Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium used closures during
the COVID-19 pandemic to rethink its building and
update its message. As it reopens following a major
renovation, we take a look at the new offer
The design is by EskewDumezRipple and Cambridge Seven / Photo: EskewDumezRipple:CambridgeSeven
New Orleans’ Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium has opened its expanded building, following a major $41m renovation that has seen the relocation and redesign of the insectarium, and an expansion and renovation of the aquarium itself.
Designed by architects EskewDumezRipple (EDR), in collaboration with architects and exhibit designers CambridgeSeven, the project saw the insectarium moved from its previous home on Canal Street to join the aquarium in the heart of New Orleans’ downtown. Visitors to the new insectarium now end their visit in a spectacular new butterfly garden featuring hundreds of free flying butterflies, lush flowers and a panoramic view of the Mississippi River.
“We’re teaching young people to love the environment,” Ron Forman, president and CEO of the Audubon Nature Institute told New Orleans news channel NOLA.com.
“Bugs and fish and reptiles and mammals are all an important part of the Earth that we need to protect for the next generation.”
REFLECTING THE MISSION Visitors to the aquarium now enter via a glass atrium with plant-covered walls fed by a hidden hydroponics system, leading onto a new lobby that tells the story of Audubon’s conservation work around the world. The aquarium’s exhibits have all been redesigned and updated, with new additions including Amazon Encounter, a walk-through exhibit that features a two-toed sloth, wading birds, an armadillo and a giant tortoise. The Mississippi River Gallery has been transformed into a bayou-themed gallery, and a new experience has been introduced offering visitors wider access to the aquarium’s 450,000 gallon Gulf of Mexico tank.
Two new gift shops have been added and the exhibit flow through the aquarium spaces has been reversed. Beyond the renewed exhibit spaces, a creative infill and reimagining of the former large-screen, immersive theatre allows for additional programming space to support Audubon in its mission. The second-floor has been transformed to house an open expanse portion of the insectarium, and the first floor hosts a new multi-purpose event.
“This project reflects Audubon’s mandate to reach for the stars and reflect the over-arching message and mission of conservation,” said Peter Sollogub, CambridgeSeven design principal on the project.
“Its vision and completion represent commitment and collaboration at its finest, using creativity, storytelling and exploration to transmit nature’s wonder and wow its community.”
“This project provides a new window into the exceptional work of Audubon, its environmental stewardship mission, and is also a key component of the ongoing revitalisation of the New Orleans riverfront,” said Haley Robinson, project architect from EskewDumezRipple.
Photo: EskewDumezRipple
“This project provides a new window into the exceptional work of Audubon, its environmental stewardship mission, and is also a key component of the ongoing revitalisation of the New Orleans riverfront,” – Haley Robinson
Photo: Audubon Nature Institute
“We’re teaching young people to love the environment. Bugs and fish and reptiles and mammals are all an important part of the Earth that we need to protect for the next generation” – Ron Forman
Photo: CambridgeSeven
“This project reflects Audubon’s mandate to reach for the stars and reflect the over-arching message and mission of conservation” – Peter Sollugub
Design Team
Architect: EskewDumezRipple
Exhibit designer: CambridgeSeven
Landscape: Spackman Mossop Michaels
Structural/civil engineering: Morphy Makofsky, Inc.
MEP Engineering: Moses Engineers
Media design: Cortina Productions
Lighting design: Eos Lightmedia
Graphic design: Natalie Zanecchia Design
LSS Design: Andy Aiken
Exhibit fabricator: 1220 Exhibits
Mural artist: Patrick Maxcy
Construction Team
Construction consultant: Dupont-LeCorgne
Contractor: Broadmoor LLC
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2023 issue 3
Editor's letter: Learning to listen
Young people were involved in every stage of planning for the new Young V&A. Is this the start of a real shift in the way children’s museums are planned?
People: Karin Hindsbo
The head of Scandinavia’s largest museum is set to take over as Tate Modern’s new director. She shares her plans
People: Sean Decatur
It’s a big year for the American Museum of Natural History, as its new president takes over and it launches a major new centre
People: Håkon Lund
As Norway’s largest theme park embraces solar energy, Lund Gruppen’s owner tells us why the industry needs to be at the forefront of change
Interview: Andreas Andersen
As Gothenburg’s Liseberg theme park celebrates its 100th anniversary, its CEO talks celebrations, challenges and COVID-19 with Magali Robathan
Museums: And still we rise
Charleston’s long-awaited International African American Museum opens, reclaiming one of the US’s most painful and sacred spaces. IAAM president Dr Tonya Matthews speaks to Attractions Management about the long road to opening
Aquaria: A fresh start
The team behind New Orleans’ Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium used the COVID-19 pandemic to rethink their offer.
We check out the result, which brings both institutions under the same roof for the first time
Museums: Power of youth
Investing in creative confidence in our young has never been as important as it is now, argues Young V&A director Helen Charman
Science centres: Axel Hüttinger
From the creation of a new science centre in Angola to an indoor/outdoor children’s gallery in Barcelona, Huttinger Interactive Exhibitions is keeping busy
Research: Mixed blessings
Attractions have been helping revitalise shopping centres for many years, but how is this market changing?
Awards: Good lookers
Some of the world’s most beautiful and innovative new museums have been celebrated by Architizer’s A+ Awards. We take a look at the winners
Sponsored: Red Raion
Red Raion has emerged as an industry leader in the realm of digital
attractions, captivating audiences worldwide with its CGI movie
experiences.
Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium used closures during
the COVID-19 pandemic to rethink its building and
update its message. As it reopens following a major
renovation, we take a look at the new offer
The design is by EskewDumezRipple and Cambridge Seven / Photo: EskewDumezRipple:CambridgeSeven
New Orleans’ Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium has opened its expanded building, following a major $41m renovation that has seen the relocation and redesign of the insectarium, and an expansion and renovation of the aquarium itself.
Designed by architects EskewDumezRipple (EDR), in collaboration with architects and exhibit designers CambridgeSeven, the project saw the insectarium moved from its previous home on Canal Street to join the aquarium in the heart of New Orleans’ downtown. Visitors to the new insectarium now end their visit in a spectacular new butterfly garden featuring hundreds of free flying butterflies, lush flowers and a panoramic view of the Mississippi River.
“We’re teaching young people to love the environment,” Ron Forman, president and CEO of the Audubon Nature Institute told New Orleans news channel NOLA.com.
“Bugs and fish and reptiles and mammals are all an important part of the Earth that we need to protect for the next generation.”
REFLECTING THE MISSION Visitors to the aquarium now enter via a glass atrium with plant-covered walls fed by a hidden hydroponics system, leading onto a new lobby that tells the story of Audubon’s conservation work around the world. The aquarium’s exhibits have all been redesigned and updated, with new additions including Amazon Encounter, a walk-through exhibit that features a two-toed sloth, wading birds, an armadillo and a giant tortoise. The Mississippi River Gallery has been transformed into a bayou-themed gallery, and a new experience has been introduced offering visitors wider access to the aquarium’s 450,000 gallon Gulf of Mexico tank.
Two new gift shops have been added and the exhibit flow through the aquarium spaces has been reversed. Beyond the renewed exhibit spaces, a creative infill and reimagining of the former large-screen, immersive theatre allows for additional programming space to support Audubon in its mission. The second-floor has been transformed to house an open expanse portion of the insectarium, and the first floor hosts a new multi-purpose event.
“This project reflects Audubon’s mandate to reach for the stars and reflect the over-arching message and mission of conservation,” said Peter Sollogub, CambridgeSeven design principal on the project.
“Its vision and completion represent commitment and collaboration at its finest, using creativity, storytelling and exploration to transmit nature’s wonder and wow its community.”
“This project provides a new window into the exceptional work of Audubon, its environmental stewardship mission, and is also a key component of the ongoing revitalisation of the New Orleans riverfront,” said Haley Robinson, project architect from EskewDumezRipple.
Photo: EskewDumezRipple
“This project provides a new window into the exceptional work of Audubon, its environmental stewardship mission, and is also a key component of the ongoing revitalisation of the New Orleans riverfront,” – Haley Robinson
Photo: Audubon Nature Institute
“We’re teaching young people to love the environment. Bugs and fish and reptiles and mammals are all an important part of the Earth that we need to protect for the next generation” – Ron Forman
Photo: CambridgeSeven
“This project reflects Audubon’s mandate to reach for the stars and reflect the over-arching message and mission of conservation” – Peter Sollugub
Design Team
Architect: EskewDumezRipple
Exhibit designer: CambridgeSeven
Landscape: Spackman Mossop Michaels
Structural/civil engineering: Morphy Makofsky, Inc.
MEP Engineering: Moses Engineers
Media design: Cortina Productions
Lighting design: Eos Lightmedia
Graphic design: Natalie Zanecchia Design
LSS Design: Andy Aiken
Exhibit fabricator: 1220 Exhibits
Mural artist: Patrick Maxcy
Construction Team
Construction consultant: Dupont-LeCorgne
Contractor: Broadmoor LLC
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2023 issue 3
Editor's letter: Learning to listen
Young people were involved in every stage of planning for the new Young V&A. Is this the start of a real shift in the way children’s museums are planned?
People: Karin Hindsbo
The head of Scandinavia’s largest museum is set to take over as Tate Modern’s new director. She shares her plans
People: Sean Decatur
It’s a big year for the American Museum of Natural History, as its new president takes over and it launches a major new centre
People: Håkon Lund
As Norway’s largest theme park embraces solar energy, Lund Gruppen’s owner tells us why the industry needs to be at the forefront of change
Interview: Andreas Andersen
As Gothenburg’s Liseberg theme park celebrates its 100th anniversary, its CEO talks celebrations, challenges and COVID-19 with Magali Robathan
Museums: And still we rise
Charleston’s long-awaited International African American Museum opens, reclaiming one of the US’s most painful and sacred spaces. IAAM president Dr Tonya Matthews speaks to Attractions Management about the long road to opening
Aquaria: A fresh start
The team behind New Orleans’ Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium used the COVID-19 pandemic to rethink their offer.
We check out the result, which brings both institutions under the same roof for the first time
Museums: Power of youth
Investing in creative confidence in our young has never been as important as it is now, argues Young V&A director Helen Charman
Science centres: Axel Hüttinger
From the creation of a new science centre in Angola to an indoor/outdoor children’s gallery in Barcelona, Huttinger Interactive Exhibitions is keeping busy
Research: Mixed blessings
Attractions have been helping revitalise shopping centres for many years, but how is this market changing?
Awards: Good lookers
Some of the world’s most beautiful and innovative new museums have been celebrated by Architizer’s A+ Awards. We take a look at the winners
Sponsored: Red Raion
Red Raion has emerged as an industry leader in the realm of digital
attractions, captivating audiences worldwide with its CGI movie
experiences.
London Museum will open four new food and drink destinations when it launches its new home
at Smithfield on 28 November, making hospitality a central part of the visitor experience at one
of the capital's biggest cultural openings of the year.
OMA has completed a major transformation of New York's New Museum, creating a larger
cultural campus that combines expanded exhibition spaces with learning, performance,
hospitality and public programming.
A US$50 million (£44.2 million, €51.2 million) transformation of Chicago's historic McCormick
Mansion has created a new destination that combines live magic, immersive theatre, dining and
private membership under one roof.
The Montana Historical Society has officially celebrated the opening of its new Montana
Heritage
Center, a US$107 million (£79 million, €92 million) destination that combines immersive
storytelling with cutting-edge audiovisual technology to bring the sta
San Antonio Zoo has reported a US$283 million economic impact for 2025, following a decade-
long transformation programme that has seen almost US$200 million invested into the Texas
attraction.
Plans for the AU$180 million redevelopment of Reef HQ Aquarium in Townsville, Australia, are
progressing, with the project set to transform the attraction into a global centre for reef
education and conservation.
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Disney has reaffirmed its commitment to investing US$30 billion in its US parks and cruise
business by 2033, using new America250 celebrations to underline the role its attractions play
in supporting jobs, tourism and economic growth.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
