Sarasota aquarium combines immersive visitor experiences with state-of-the-art labs

Work recently concluded on the Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA), a 146,000 sf facility in Sarasota designed for Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium.

Envisioned as a new flagship for marine science, research, and education, the project combines immersive visitor experiences with state-of-the-art laboratories to advance Mote’s mission of protecting and restoring ocean ecosystems.

The guest experience unfolds along a three-story path that blends science, education, and discovery. The journey begins with an escalator or elevator ride to the third floor, where immersive open-air habitats for otters and manatees introduce guests to Florida’s native ecology.

The third floor also houses virtual reality experiences and laboratories offering views of scientists conducting live research.

Second floor highlights include Indo-Pacific habitats, home to colorful fish and intricate reef systems, alongside additional galleries and interactive exhibits that deepen understanding of the ocean environment.

The experience concludes on the ground level, anchored by the two-floor Florida’s Gulf Coast habitat containing local marine species. This level also provides multipurpose assembly space, classrooms, laboratories, and community areas.

Three STEM classrooms serve K–12 students from across the region, and five workforce training labs create hands-on research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. This multi-layered approach ensures that Mote’s work not only informs the public but also cultivates future marine scientists and conservationists.

Designed for durability and flexibility in Sarasota’s coastal environment, the building also integrates climate-responsive strategies, shaded exterior areas, adaptable exhibit halls, and laboratories that can evolve with advances in marine science.

“Creating a project as visible and important as Mote SEA meant balancing storytelling with pragmatism,” adds Jonathan Henry, associate principal at TVS. “From the building’s expressive form to its resilient façade system, every design decision was made to communicate Mote’s mission while ensuring the building can serve guests from all over the world for generations to come.”

On the project team:
Owner and/or developer: Mote Marine Laboratory Inc.
Design architect: TVS
Architect of record: TVS
MEP engineer: EXP U.S. Services
Structural engineer: Walter P. Moore
General contractor/construction manager: Whiting-Turner