Visitors to the new aquarium in Syracuse’s Inner Harbor will be greeted by a familiar name in healthcare after a 3-year, $1.5 million naming rights sponsorship. The building’s façade will read Crouse Health Harborview Aquarium when it opens.
Crouse Hospital CEO Paul Kronenberg said the Aquarium seemed to be the right place for the hospital to reach out to residents about health and prevention, “whether it’s stroke care, cardiac care, women’s health, mother and baby resources and to be able to provide that where people are in the community are living and experiencing the community, rather than confined to the four walls of the hospital.”
Construction of the aquarium began more than a year-and-a-half ago. It is expected to be open later this year. Crews are currently on site working to complete construction.
“You see lots of cars, those are all construction workers that had been working on this project for the last few years, making great wages, supporting their families. Zoo Oceanarium, who’s going to manage the facility, has been hiring. They’ve hired dozens of people already and the hiring is going to continue up to opening day here,” said McMahon.
The aquarium is expected to include more than 200 species from marine, freshwater, and coastal ecosystems. Visitors will also be able to view aquatic life all around them through a tunnel exhibit.
STEM education experiences will be highlighted in some of the exhibits. The Aquarium is also expected to collaborate with the Museum of Science and Technology and the Rosamond Gifford Zoo on educational programming.
