PROJECT FEATURE
TWO OCEANS
AQUARIUM
TWO OCEANS AQUARIUM
V&A Waterfront
CLIENT
Two Oceans Aquarium
V&A Waterfront
ARCHITECTS
mlh architects & planners
PROJECT MANAGERS
MDA
QUANTITY SURVEYORS
Schneid Libera Nieuwoudt
Consulting Engineers
STRUCTURAL/CIVIL/PLUMBING/WET
SERVICES
Aurecon South Africa
ELECTRICAL/FIRE
SolutionStation
MECHANICAL
Basil Nair & Associates
SAFETY CONSULTANTS
Frontline Safety Health and Environmental
Consultants
MAIN CONTRACTOR
Group Five Building
TEXT & PHOTOGRAPHY
Fiona Barclay Smith
Jason Boud - Photo on page 51
BELOW:
SOUTH ELEVATION
50
T
he Two Oceans Aquarium, situated in Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, was opened
in 1995. Over the past 21 years, it has become an established and much visited
institution with an international reputation. The new 2,800m² I&J Ocean Exhibit
and Functions Venue is the first major addition to the Aquarium, on a site that was once
a parking area between the Aquarium and the One & Only Hotel. Construction of the
extension commenced in January 2014.
INTRODUCTION
The new I&J Ocean Exhibit tank holds 1.7 million litres of seawater at a temperature
of between 20 and 22º Celsius. It is the first exhibit of its kind in South Africa to
boast a full 10m long acrylic tunnel. The exhibit’s main viewing window is a continuous
9m wide panel which is 4m high, weighs 22 tonnes and is 330mm thick. It took a
450 tonne crane to lift this panel into place. The entrance to the I&J Ocean Exhibit
includes a new Jelly Gallery showcasing various jelly species which are exhibited in
illuminated cylindrical tanks.
Some of the animals that are on display in the new I&J Ocean Exhibit include turtles,
rays, elf, and a brindle bass. Species that have not been on display at the aquarium before,
but will be housed in the new Ocean Exhibit, include a giant guitarfish, yellowfin tuna
and striped bonito. The new I&J Ocean Exhibit will not house any large shark species.
The warmer water in the new exhibit allows the inclusion of some sub-tropical species
as well as species from the southern Cape coast. This means that a greater diversity
of species from the waters off southern Africa can be showcased.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Mitchell Du Plessis Projects (MDA) have been involved with the Two Oceans Aquarium
Trust (TOAT) from its inception as a potential addition to the V&A Waterfront (V&AW)
attractions early in the 1990’s, and oversaw both the design and construction of the
facility that opened to the public some 20 years ago. MDA were again appointed by
TOAT for the extension of the existing facility in order to leverage off the experience
gained in the initial phase.
From the onset of the project, the construction of the main tank was the focus
as it was on the critical path. A key milestone in the programme was the receipt
Two Oceans Aquarium