TORONTO | Ripley's Aquarium | 200,000 square feet + 50,000 square feet retail

J. Will · #1 Posted **Jun 23, 2010, 10:30 AM**

-193,750 square feet on the east side of the CN Tower
-50,000-square-foot retail and restaurant complex on the west side of the CN Tower

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/arti...um-at-cn-tower

"Plans to make big splash with aquarium at CN Tower

"The CN Tower is statistically the most trafficked man-made tourist facility in Canada," McIvor said. "You've got a built-in international audience as well as a lot of schoolchildren. Obviously, an aquarium has a huge academic audience."

Ripley's proposed development would see an aquarium encompassing 193,750 square feet on the east side of the tower and a 50,000-square-foot retail and restaurant complex on the west side.

The proposal has been filed with the city, and politicians will begin reviewing the plans at next week's meeting of the Toronto and East York community council."

MolsonExport · #2 Posted **Jun 23, 2010, 12:56 PM**

About time they expanded the attractions at the base of the CN tower. Canada's biggest two cities lack aquariums. Montreal once had a fairly decent one, but then converted it to some crappy amusement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Aquarium
http://expo67.ncf.ca/expo_alcan_p1.html
And the Biodome doesn't count.

Rail>Auto · #3 Posted **Sep 19, 2010, 11:48 PM**

Would this be built on the land that currently has that nice pond/creek area with steps around it?

Is there a master plan for everything around the CN Tower. I agree that they need to put some more things around it.

JG1324 · #4 Posted **Sep 20, 2010, 12:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rail>Auto

Would this be built on the land that currently has that nice pond/creek area with steps around it?

Going by the Rendering, it looks to be about here.

Obey · #5 Posted **Sep 20, 2010, 2:11 AM**

Why would Ripley's make an aquarium?

blacktrojan3921 · #6 Posted **Aug 9, 2011, 5:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Obey

Why would Ripley's make an aquarium?

They actually already made a couple of Aquariums down in the U.S.

MolsonExport · #7 Posted **Aug 9, 2011, 11:53 AM**

Believe it, or not!

glowrock · #8 Posted **Dec 26, 2011, 9:00 PM**

Current construction progress, from the CN Tower's glass floor. Taken this past Friday, December 23rd.

While I think it's a fantastic thing that Toronto's going to get a pretty major aquarium, I think Ripley's is being a bit overzealous when they call it "world class" and "one of the largest aquariums in North America." Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, for instance, is pushing 6 million gallons of water, though about 4 million of that is for their enormous whale shark exhibit. There are many, many aquariums in the U.S. in the 1.0-1.5 million gallon range, including such locations as Boston, Baltimore, Denver, Long Beach, Chattanooga TN, and a number of others. New Orleans as well, just for one more. Also, the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago is, I believe, in the 3-4 million gallon range.

The location IS really good, no doubt about it. The base of the CN Tower? Why the heck not?

Aaron (Glowrock)

Jonovision · #9 Posted **Dec 27, 2011, 3:33 PM**

I didn't know this was already under construction. Toronto continues to amaze me every day.

JBinCalgary · #10 Posted **Feb 18, 2012, 11:28 PM**

Cant wait to visit there one day. Then head over to the roundhouse for a beer

Dwils01 · #11 Posted **Feb 20, 2012, 6:14 PM**

Ripley's Aquarium seen thourgh the trees.

A close up shot.

Pics by me from Sunday February 12, 2012.

THE BIG APPLE · #12 Posted **Feb 20, 2012, 10:51 PM**

So the Rogers Centre (former Skydome), isn't an added feature to the surroundings of the CN Tower. It was a long time ago. I'm actually surprised at the lack of aquariums in Canada. The more the merrier (i guess).

Dwils01 · #13 Posted **Mar 13, 2012, 11:40 PM**

Ripley's Aquarium of Canada at the base of the CN Tower.

Photo's by me from Wednesday March 07, 2012.

Dwils01 · #14 Posted **May 2, 2012, 7:19 PM**

Ripley's Aquarium from the CN Tower.

Pictures by me from early April.

Dwils01 · #15 Posted **Nov 9, 2012, 1:44 AM**

Construction progress from August.

Source: http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2012/09/...t-urbantoronto

Construction progress from last month: (sorry image is so large)

Source: http://themeparkcanuck.com/2012/10/1...canada-update/

Ch.G, Ch.G · #16 Posted **Nov 9, 2012, 3:57 AM**

An aquarium chain? And the other locations are Gatlinburg, Tennessee and Myrtle Beach? This is an embarrassment for a global city like Toronto.

vinchops · #17 Posted **Nov 30, 2012, 1:47 AM**

i wouldnt call this an embarrassment at all this is great. toronto is finally becoming a great tourist destination.

DrNest · #18 Posted **Nov 30, 2012, 1:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ch.G, Ch.G

An aquarium chain? And the other locations are Gatlinburg, Tennessee and Myrtle Beach? This is an embarrassment for a global city like Toronto.

The big embarrassment was that Toronto didn't have an aquarium of any significant size. This will be great for Toronto, and in a prime tourist location. I'm excited for its construction.

Dwils01 · #19 Posted **Mar 11, 2013, 6:54 PM**

Update on the Aquarium.

Work around the CN Tower

Source for both: http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/showthr...3s-B-H)/page87

MercurySky · #20 Posted **Mar 12, 2013, 8:19 PM**

This is a great location for this. It was too barren at the base of the tower.