PGAV Locations is celebrating the completion and opening of many projects throughout the US through the earlier calendar year, displaying that there is purpose for optimism as we head into a new year, inspite of the problems offered by COVID-19.

“The spot sector proceeds to evolve, innovate and keep on being competitive even as a result of this pandemic, and we are so honoured to have worked with our clients to develop these attractions,” suggests PGAV CEO, Mike Konzen.

“We applaud these purchasers who built the difficult determination to drive forward with projects even amidst a pandemic. This selection allows them to be one particular-stage-ahead in featuring site visitors new and enjoyable possibilities as attractions are ready to open up up and encourage visitation for them selves and their local community.”

Many organisations manufactured the conclusion to keep on with important tasks very last yr, looking at the have to have to situation their places prepared for the industry to bounce back again in 2021, and to adhere to through on investments. This contains sights such as the Mississippi Aquarium the Aquarium at the Boardwalk in Branson, Missouri Hersheypark’s new Chocolatetown and extra.

Mississippi Aquarium

On 29 August 2020, 15 many years after Hurricane Katrina, Mississippi Aquarium opened to the public, serving as a catalyst for the revitalization of Gulfport and the Mississippi Gulf Coastline. Right here, PGAV Locations was driving the design and style and masterplanning for the aquarium campus and visitor ordeals.

The attraction is on a website of 5.8 acres and is dwelling to far more than 80,000 sq. ft of indoor and outside exhibits, taking pleasure in views of the Mississippi Audio. The reveals and habitats are related by landscaped walkways, showcasing crops that signify the distinct areas of Mississippi.

Mississippi Aquarium

Graphic courtesy of Mississippi Aquarium

The inside of exhibit, Aquatic Wonders, is all around 30,000 sq. feet. Site visitors can enjoy a big 300,000-gallon ocean habitat with several different viewing opportunities, as nicely as contact tanks, a 19,000-gallon sardine ‘bait-ball’ habitat and a stroll-by 360 acrylic tunnel suspended in the middle of the tank.

“Opening was a risk that we contemplated for some time,” states Kurt Allen, CEO of Mississippi Aquarium.  “But sooner or later, we preferred to show great information and we did that by opening on the anniversary of Katrina, through a pandemic, all the though the relaxation of the earth was shutting down.

“We felt that Mississippi desired it and we have been concentrated on finding open and undertaking it ideal.  So considerably, the reaction has been phenomenal, and we value the guidance of our regional and state leaders as very well as the common community together with our group.  We have definitely been a vivid place more than the final a number of months.”

The Aquarium at the Boardwalk

On 23 November 2020, The Aquarium at the Boardwalk in Branson, Missouri opened for the first time. This edutainment vacation spot is positioned on the  Spirit of ’76 Freeway and is the to start with phase of the Branson Boardwalk growth by Kuvera Associates.

Aquarium at the Boardwalk Branson

Image courtesy of Aquarium at the Boardwalk

PGAV Destinations was responsible for the design and style of this new attraction, which aims to position Branson as a desired destination for households with youngsters.

Chocolatetown, Hersheypark

Hersheypark has extended been a well-liked place, and now visitors can appreciate the new Chocolatetown enlargement which opened on 3 July 2020. The $150 million Chocolatetown enlargement offers a lot of new points of interest, like Candymonium, Hersheypark’s biggest coaster at any time.

Candymonium Hersheypark

Image courtesy of Hersheypark

Guests will also occur by a reimagined arrival knowledge which attributes the one-of-a-variety Kisses Fountain. In addition to this, the basic Hersheypark Carousel has been relocated and the park now has several all-new shopping encounters. Hersheypark’s Chocolatetown represents the location the place enjoyable satisfies chocolate.

For this undertaking, PGAV Destinations was the attraction designer, architect, interior designer, retail designer, and graphic designer.

Ruth & J.O. Stone Dolphin Elaborate, Clearwater Marine Aquarium

On 16 October 2020, the new Ruth & J.O. Stone Dolphin Complicated at Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Florida opened its doorways. The aquarium is house to Winter season and Hope, the stars of Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2.

Below, PGAV Destinations offered exhibit structure, graphic layout, and inside style and design services from idea as a result of development. The new sophisticated has tripled the attraction’s house for rescued dolphins, including five interconnected pools that total 1.5 million gallons of water. There are also new again-of-residence habitats and facilities, this means the aquarium can now give care for 2 times as numerous animals, including new spaces.

Ruth-JO-Stone-Dolphin-Complex

Image courtesy of Clearwater Maritime Aquarium

The undertaking has additional a broader array of habitats, as well as new veterinary treatment regions and enrichment chances. There is also new instruction area a new entry expertise new dining area with locally sourced food selections a new retail area non-public event space with a ballroom and entire prep kitchen high-tech theatre 4 personal assembly rooms and five-times the visitor area.

It has a thematic, open up principle that offers a soothing ambiance for the two animals and website visitors.  for the animals and company.

Georgia Aquarium expansion

On 23 Oct 2020, the new $100 million, 4-story expansion at Ga Aquarium opened, known as Sharks! – Predators of the Deep. PGAV Locations continued its extensive-term partnership with the aquarium to style a new entry knowledge and a new shark show.

This new growth includes floor-to-ceiling acrylic home windows, in which website visitors can get up shut to the sharks. The 1.2 million gallon habitat is dwelling to a number of species of sharks and aims to present visitors how crucial these animals are and the function they play in the ocean, encouraging them to sign up for conservation initiatives.

Georgia Aquarium-Shark-Exhibit

impression courtesy of Georgia Aquarium

Ga Aquarium sees above two million yearly site visitors and has contributed virtually $2 billion to the state’s GDP considering that it to start with opened. Sharks! – Predators of the Deep will significantly maximize equally attendance and economic development.

Large Bear Alpine Zoo

The Significant Bear Alpine Zoo at Massive Bear Lake in California opened its new $18.2 million state-of-the-artwork facility on 5 November 2020, adhering to 20 a long time of arranging, fundraising and building. Major Bear Alpine Zoo is a sanctuary and rehabilitation facility that provides a safe haven for injured, orphaned and imprinted wild animals, which houses animals either quickly, or forever when needed.

The new facility has more house for the animal people, as well as offering an enhanced guest practical experience. As well as animals from the San Bernardino Nationwide Forest, people can also see some specific residents – snow leopard sisters and a family of grizzly bears.

Elephant Expedition, Kansas City Zoo

PGAV has continued its successful marriage with Kansas Metropolis Zoo by doing the job on its most recent undertaking, the Elephant Exhibition habitat, which opened on 22 Might. This is section of the zoo’s extensive-selection grasp program.

Elephant Expedition Kansas City Zoo

Picture courtesy of Kansas City Zoo

Next this challenge, the zoo’s resident elephants can now love a larger and much more enriching house with a splash pool and waterfall as properly as a filtration technique that saves about 100,000 gallons of water each several times.

Virginia Air & Place Science Heart

On 18 December, almost $1.5M in updates to the Virginia Air and Room Science Middle ended up unveiled to the community. This consists of many new interactive shows, a robotics lab, impressive artefact showcases, and slicing-edge exhibits.

The new content for the Space Explorer Gallery has been created to interact a wider, multigenerational viewers. Updates to the Center’s IMAX Theater incorporate new seating, projection display, flooring, and lights, leading to a additional pleasurable and immersive visitor expertise.

Past month, PGAV Destinations declared that it has been recognised for its do the job on Rulantica at Europa-Park in Germany with a WWA Primary Edge Award.