May 4, 2016 - After completing significant site cleanup, thanks to our hundreds of Donors and Charter Members, Aquarius Aquarium Institute is now set to begin construction of our very first structure on the future Fresno Aquarium property - our Aquaculture Building. For information about what the Aquaculture Building is all about, see our previous post here.

Even as money continues to be raised, our board of directors is eager to celebrate this milestone with our community* with an official groundbreaking ceremony before we pour concrete and travelers along Highway 99 see our 38,000 gallon fire protection water tank rise on our site this summer.

As of today, the Fresno Aquarium's From the Ground Up capital campaign has sold 1,169 large $200 concrete blocks out of 2,200 and 344 regular $100 blocks for a total of $268,200.00 for the Aquaculture Building and its associated infrastructure. There is $461,800.00 left to raise to complete the Aquaculture Building.

The beginning of this new work on the Fresno Aquarium property is historic in consideration of the site's rich history. As a former sand and gravel mining operation and asphalt plant in the 20th century, the re-purposing of the property in the 21st will ultimately transform it into an educational amenity along the river that will improve the quality of life for citizens in Fresno and throughout the San Joaquin Valley.

*Due to limited access on the construction site, the groundbreaking ceremony is limited to invited guests and media only.