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    © Jez Coulson / Georgia Aquarium
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Georgia Aquarium

Atlanta, Georgia

Architect: PGAV Destinations
Completion: 2005

The Georgia Aquarium opened its doors in Atlanta in 2005. It is the world’s largest aquarium facility with more than 8 million gallons of marine and freshwater and home to over 100 thousand fish including whale sharks – the first US aquarium to feature this largest living fish species. FMS designers helped recreate the illuminating magic of underwater life in all five of the aquarium’s galleries: Georgia Explorer, Tropical Diver, Ocean Voyager, Cold Water Quest, and River Scout.

The Ocean Voyager exhibit (image above), is lighted by several narrow spotlights to create “sunlight” and depth of field for this deep pool of water housing the whale sharks. Viewing room illumination is indirect fluorescent with supplemental steplights, minimizing window reflections.

All marine environments were carefully developed, considering illumination levels and sources to create a healthy environment for the animals while revealing the brilliance of each exhibition.

2007 IESNY Lumen Award of Merit
2007 Edwin F. Guth Memorial Award of Excellence for Interior Lighting