VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WVEC) — The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center broke ground on the new Darden Marine Animal Conservation Center on Friday.
The Darden MACC will replace an aging off-site facility that provides operational support for the Aquarium. The new center will house aquatic animal collections, educational outreach, and research and conservation programs, including the Stranding Response Program.
The facility will also include seawater access, specialized animal care, and quarantine systems.
“We are thrilled to break ground on this new facility, which will provide our team with expanded opportunities to continue the exceptional work that they do daily,” said Cynthia Spanoulis, Executive Director of the Virginia Aquarium. “We are grateful to the Darden family for their support of the work we do, and eagerly await the completion of the new building.”
Construction is expected to start in the next few months, and the new building is anticipated to be open in 2020.
