Aquarium slowly taking shape at ViaPort in Rotterdam

PHOTOGRAPHER: Peter R. Barber

Jimerico Construction worker Tom McCarthy of Syracuse works in one of the tunnels in the new Via Aquarium as work continues in the ViaPort Mall in Rotterdam Thursday, July 7, 2016.

The aquarium at ViaPort in Rotterdam is starting to take shape, and the director of the attraction said the mall is targeting a September opening, though it could be later in the year.

A tour through the work site Thursday afternoon showed signs of the aquarium coming together, with some tanks in place and framework for other exhibits built. However, the space still is dimly lighted and occupied by construction workers and the sound of saws and hammers. David Gross, director of the Via Aquarium, said the aquarium’s opening could come anywhere from September to December.

“There’s still a lot to do,” he said.

The aquarium, along with the recently opened Via Entertainment complex, which includes bowling, arcade games and dining, is the latest entertainment offering at the former Rotterdam Square mall.

Crews continued working Thursday as Gross pointed out where different exhibits would be located. The frame of a ticket booth has been erected near the entrance, just across from the Via Entertainment complex and near the Sears, which is scheduled to close next month.

The theme of the aquarium is to take visitors around the world, Gross said. Creatures that will be on display are native to Australia, Mexico, South America and Thailand, among other places, he explained. In addition, there will be some fish at the aquarium that can be found locally.

The list of animals expected to be on display upon opening includes electric eels, rainbow fish, sturgeon from the Hudson River, jellyfish, octopuses, cuttlefish, blacktip sharks and whitetip sharks. One case will feature clownfish, Gross said, a fish which most are familiar with thanks to the popular Pixar film “Finding Nemo.”

One section of the aquarium will feature more open exhibits. A rock base is already in place for what Gross said will be a koi pond. That is located just a short distance from what he said will hold starfish and other small marine life that visitors will be able to touch.

In total, the attraction will feature 37 tanks and about 75,000 gallons of water, Gross said.

Along with the fish, the Via Aquarium will also offer standard features available at similar attractions, including a photo opportunity at the start with the chance to purchase it at the end, and a gift shop.

There are other interactive aspects to the aquarium, many of which are intended to serve an educational purpose.

For example, Gross said, there will be a river projected onto the floor, including fish, beavers and other wildlife. From there, visitors can play a game where the goal is to keep trash that appears out of the river. If they don’t they’ll see the effects of the trash on the river, he said.

“The idea is to teach people something without it seeming too oppressive,” Gross said.

There will also be a small theater in the aquarium that can seat about 75 people. Gross said they’re expecting around 10,000 kids to pass through the aquarium on field trips each year, so the theater can be used to accommodate those or other groups. Other educational programs will be offered regularly, with some targeted at specific age groups, Gross said. Projections show an estimated 200,000 visitors will come to the aquarium annually, he said.

But before that can happen, there’s still a good amount of work to do. Gross said there have been a couple challenges, particularly with an exhibit that is comprised of a pair of tunnels visitors can walk through with marine life on either side.

That has presented some architectural difficulty, Gross said, as one worker continued assembling it on Thursday. Other adjustments have been made along the way, such as cutting out portions of the floor to install padding and piping that better supports the tanks, he said.

Aside from the construction staff, the aquarium currently employs five people. It will eventually employ about 25 people, though Gross said the exact number will depend on how well the attraction does.

Prices will range from $10 for kids ages 4-17, to $17 for adults. There’s will also be a $14 ticket available for college students, military members and seniors, and an annual family pass that will run $100.