The land deal will cost an estimated $8 million, a price thatincludes the relocation of an existing city repair garage; whilephase one will price out at $35 million. Additional phases at thesite are expected to produce an animal rescue center, research lab,and potentially, a hotel and conference center. The entire campusdevelopment project is expected to cost $110 million.

Situated along the Patapsco River, the future home of the Centerfor Aquatic Life is currently a brownfield site that will requirecleanup before the development process can get underway. Officialsof the National Aquarium have long had the property in theirsights, but issues with the Environmental Protection Agency and theconsideration of other locations slowed the selection process. Butwhat is now a mini-environmental nightmare will evolve into a"green" property featuring a building with an energy efficientdesign, efficient water usage and use of ecologically friendlymaterials.

The Center for Aquatic Life will be a supplement, not a replacethe existing 23-year-old, 250,000-sf National Aquarium facility onPratt St. in the Inner Harbor. That headquarters site is currentlyundergoing an expansion of its own; a $66 million endeavor thatwill produce a 65,400-sf Australian Outback exhibit scheduled toopen in the fall of next year.