Bass Pro, Morris give $12M for WOW project

WOW closed Dec. 2 and construction began later that month on a project that will increase the museum’s square footage to more than 200,000, compared to 126,129 square feet now.

Officials initially said the renovation would cost about $14 million, but WOW acting Executive Director Peggy Smith said that’s been a “moving target,” and the estimate is now closer to $25 million. Part of that increase is due to Morris’ donation, which allows the museum to include more features in its new design.

WOW officials also originally said the project would take about six months to complete. The estimated completion date was later moved to spring 2009 – a decision that meant laying off 19 employees, in addition to 27 laid off last November. Officials now are targeting summer 2009. Smith said the delay is a result of the more complex design made possible by Morris’ donation.

A final design for the project is not complete, Smith said, but planned features include a flooded rainforest exhibit, shark touch tank, living coral tank, butterfly aviary, nocturnal swamp, new west entrance, new vehicle entry, larger lake and a bridge connection over the community pond. Work is under way now on a ring road that will allow pedestrian and fire access around the museum’s north end and demolition on the interior, according to a news release.

The project design team includes TVS Architects, Atlanta; aquarium designer Peter Chermayeff; Dallas World Aquarium owner and designer Daryl Richardson; and Oklahoma Aquarium designer Kenny Alexopoulos, according to the release.