Georgia Aquarium Articles ...

ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION
5/29/03
12:30 p.m.
Marcus unveils aquarium design
By MIKE MORRIS


Bernard Marcus, financier of the Georgia Aquarium, unveiled the design for the future $200 million downtown Atlanta attraction Thursday morning before an enthusiastic assemblage of Georgia's business and political leaders.

Designed to "look like an ark," the facility will be "a symbol of preservation," the Home Depot co-founder said as he revealed an artist rendition of what will be one of the world's largest aquariums.

"Why are we building an aquarium?" Marcus asked. "It is important that we gave something back to the community. An aquarium has a lot of magic to it. It's something we are going to have a lot of fun with. I cannot wait to see the faces of children."

Marcus said he expects the aquarium, projected to open in 2005, to spur economic development.

"People don't say 'let's spend the weekend in Atlanta.' Five years from now this is going to have a major impact on this area," Marcus said.

"People will want to come here from other states," he said. "They'll say, 'let's pack up the kids and let's go to Atlanta.' "

"It's a great day in Atlanta," Mayor Shirley Franklin said, adding that she would work to "make sure that once people come, they will come back time and time again."

Gov. Sonny Perdue also stressed the importance of the aquarium as a tourist attraction, invoking Atlanta's former name, Terminus, and saying, "We want this to be a termination destination."

Perdue said the aquarium will "add to the vitality of downtown Atlanta."

The governor said that while Georgia has had some economic challenges since Sept. 11, 2001, the aquarium is proof that, "We're not retreating as a state, we're not retreating as a city."

Perdue said that while "many talk about giving back to the community," Marcus "put his money where his mouth is."

This morning's ceremonies, attended by several hundred invited guests who crowded under a huge tent at the site just north of Centennial Olympic Park, were opened by the Young Singers of Callanwolde, who sang "Under the Sea" from the movie, "The Little Mermaid."

One of the highlights of the event was the unveiling of the aquarium's mascot, a Home Depot-orange fish dubbed "Deepo."

Also unveiled were glimpses of what Marcus called "the big secret that's been tormenting everyone in the city."

One by one, Marcus revealed artist sketches of the entire aquarium, the view of the front of the building, and an inside view of the banquet hall, which he said will hold 12,000 to 15,000 people for receptions.



© 2003 Atlanta-Journal Constitution