Georgia Aquarium

Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus wanted to thank the state of Georgia for its support as customers, employees and shareholders. He chose Atlanta as the site for the largest aquarium in the world and Heery International to make it happen in record time. The 505,000 SF, $290 million aquarium features more than 100,000 aquatic creatures from around the globe in habitats created with more than 8 million gallons of water.

Heery was retained as project manager/owners representative in February 2002 and concept planning started in March 2002. Construction commenced July 2003, and the aquarium opened to the public on November 19, 2005. The total project, from inception to opening day, occurred in just 44 months, as opposed to the usual 84 months for other aquariums in the United States. The accelerated schedule required construction to start prior to completed drawings and involved more than 100 firms and 1000 people on site at any given time.

To better manage resources, Heery broke the aquarium project down into a dozen distinct smaller projects such as water treatment, individual galleries, parking deck, kitchen and theater.

Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus has pledged $200 million to build this world-class aquarium as his gift to the people of Georgia who have supported Home Depot throughout the years. It was Heery’s long-standing relationship with the Home Depot that led to this prestigious assignment.

By March 2008, more than 6.9 million visitors had passed through the doors of the Georgia Aquarium. With so much interest from the public, the Georgia Aquarium decided that it was nonetheless time to expand again. So, less than three years since it successfully saw the aquarium opened, Heery is back at work on new plans to make the world’s largest aquarium even larger.

Conservation is an important component of this project. The facility, which encompasses a water-treatment plant comparable to many cities, will retreat all water every 60 - 80 minutes, and uses less water per day than an average office building.

Funding by: The Marcus Foundation
Owner: The Georgia Aquarium, Inc.
Land Donated by: The Coca-Cola Company
PM/Owner’s Rep: Heery International
Architect: Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback and Associates
Exhibit Design: Peckham Guyton Albers & Viets
Contractor: Brasfield & Gorrie