Gurus hired to build $35m Cairns Aquarium

TWO architects behind some of the world’s most impressive aquariums will join forces to design the $35 million Cairns Aquarium.

Peddle Thorp Architects and Ellick & Partners Architects were yesterday officially awarded the contract to design the three-storey building, which is set to open on a 10,000sq m site in the CBD in July 2016.

The two firms, who have designed aquariums in Melbourne, Dubai, Spain, China and South Korea, were among 13 companies who applied for the contract. They beat out firms in the UK, Malaysia and the US.

Peddle Thorp senior design architect James Hampton said designing aquariums required a special skill set.

“It’s not like designing a building. There is so much to them, you have to have that wow factor,” he said.

Ellick & Partners director Phillip Ellick said the aquarium would have a “global flavour”.

“It’s a different market and we’re not going to build a Melbourne aquarium in Cairns, that’s for sure,” he said.

Peddle Thorpwill also be drawing on the local knowledge of its Cairns office, whose 12 staff will play an active role during the design and construction phase.

Cairns Aquarium chief executive Daniel Leipnik said both firms’ expertise in designing aquariums around the world made it an easy decision. He said it was a major milestone for the project. “This stage is incredibly significant,” he said.

“You start off with the design of the project and it’s that design that really takes you from something in your mind to something much more concrete,” he said.

Mr Leipnik said the first designs could be made public as early as September, when the company hopes to lodge a development application with Cairns Regional Council.

The aquarium will be home to a collection of more than 5000 fish, animals and plants.

Original story at The Cairns Post