Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

HHCP was the Design Architect and Architect of Record for the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Tennessee. The 6-acre site, $42 million privately funded aquarium is located in the center of the popular Smoky Mountains resort. The property was previously home to the Greystone Hotel. The aquarium building has an indigenous architectural style and is considered a landmark in the east Tennessee area. Housing thousands of marine animals from all over the world, the attraction combines state-of-the-art technology with spectacular theming and large viewing windows. The aquarium holds 1 million gallons of water, the majority of which is salt water. The centerpiece feature is an underwater tunnel that visitors ride through on a moving pathway.

 This major exhibit gives the visitors the feeling of being underwater, and places them just inches away from numerous large sharks, poisonous predators and thousands of beautiful fish. The aquarium is a multi-sensory sequence of experiences that provides guests with numerous opportunities to see, hear, and touch sea life from all over the world.