Maritime Aquarium To Break Ground On New Seal Exhibit, 4D Theater

NORWALK, CT — The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk will break ground on Monday on a new 4D theater to replace the soon-to-be torn down IMAX theater, and an upgraded and larger seal exhibit, officials announced.

Monday's groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. inside the facility, and will feature remarks from Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling, new Maritime Aquarium president and CEO Jason Patlis, and state Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff. United States Sen. Richard Blumenthal also is tentatively scheduled to attend.

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• Maritime Aquarium Shares Plans For New 4D Theater In Norwalk
• Maritime Aquarium Begins Work On Seals' Temporary Home

The new 179-seat 4D theater, which offers a more immersive type of theater experience, will be adjacent to the main entrance.

The improved seal exhibit will feature a 150,000-gallon, two-story enclosed harbor seal habitat, and will be on display in its original location in the Newman’s Own Hall. Currently, the seal exhibit is in a temporary site in the aquarium's former "Go Fish" space.

"The projects are occuring in response to the coming replacement of the Walk railroad bridge that runs between the Aquarium’s main building and its IMAX Theater," officials wrote in a statement. "The multi-year replacement of the bridge, expected to begin in 2021, requires removal of the Aquarium’s iconic IMAX Theater and the riverfront structure that currently houses the seals and the 'Meerkats' exhibit."