Push continues for Albany aquarium | All Over Albany New York State's Capital Region is in badly need of an aquarium or zoo I hope it gets built. But I can't say I'm too hopeful it will knowing the history of the Capital Region lack of action on ideas in the past.
Part of the question may be "If," but then a bigger concern is "What exactly?" There are many rather cheap aquariums being thrown into developmwnts these days.
That tells us a great deal about the scale of the project. Small. Perhaps like this A: Everything. Q: What's Wrong with the Greater Cleveland Aquarium? | Scene and Heard: Scene's News Blog
I've visited the Greater Cleveland Aquarium and this quote from the article sums it up perfectly: "I love aquariums and wanted to be there," said a local twentysomething about her Cleveland aquarium experience, "and I had to really work to stay for 45 minutes."
Omni Development to do aquarium study - Times Union Omni Development hires consultant to study aquarium in downtown Albany, NY - The Business Review
The consultant they hired is widely used and well respected. They are not aquarium designers, but rather gauge likely economic benefits from the aquarium. They would specify what size aquarium would yield the desired results
Omni Development touts aquarium study - Times Union http://troyrecord.com/articles/2013/09/26/news/doc5244e891c7870274381389.txt
So now it just needs $150million and off you go! Of course, there are aquariums and there are Aquariums!
Real estate developer I. David Swawite is renewing his push to bring an aquarium to downtown Albany, New York - Albany Business Review
Looks like the Albany area may getting an very small aquarium in all place a dying shopping mall. Rotterdam Square Mall's new owner plans aquarium, major updates in $10 million plan - Times Union
How big is 25,000 square feet? I imagine that's small for an aquarium. New director makes plans for Rotterdam Square Mall aquarium - Times Union
These three Sea Life franchises (Arizona, Kansas City and Orlando) are all around 25,000 sq. ft. in size. A facility somewhat geographically close to the proposed project would be Jenkinson's Aquarium in New Jersey, which is approximately 23,000 sq. ft. while Aquarium of Niagara (in New York) is 32,000 sq. ft. in size. Those examples should give you an idea of the size of the Rotterdam Square Mall Aquarium if it is built. There are approximately 130 aquariums in the United States and the establishments that are around 25,000 sq. ft. in size are smack-dab in the middle in terms of size...meaning that the average visitor only spends an hour inside the facility. For a Sea Life franchise, a single individual often struggles to spend more than 30 minutes visiting the attraction.
Photos: Aquarium work under way in Rotterdam - Times Union New Rotterdam aquarium gets closer to grand opening