MAY 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE 45
enderings of the proposed new Mote
Science Education Aquarium show it
perched at the edge of Nathan Benderson
Park’s north lake’s west trail like a majestic
R
four-story ship ready to launch. It is impressive, as is the
ambitious plan to double exhibition space and attendance
in a high-tech, hands-on learning environment, but it is just
the first phase of Mote Marine Laboratory’s long-term vision.
The momentous rebirth of Mote Aquarium frees space at its
current home on City Island and paves the way to expand
its original raison d’être as a nonprofit marine research
and exploration organization. “It is our longer-term vision
beyond 2020 that is driving the need for us to grow,” said
Dr. Michael P. Crosby, Mote’s President and CEO. “We
have five campuses from Sarasota Bay to the Keys, and
we are talking about growing again in a way that allows
us to significantly evolve the City Island campus into an
international marine science, technology and innovation
center. The essential first step is that we need more space.”
While the aquarium is Mote’s public face and a great
attraction for visitors, it wasn’t established until 1980,
while Mote has been involved in marine research since
its founding by Dr. Eugenie Clark in 1955.