Aquarium roof in the midst of reconstruction after removal of the pier planks. Photo: Jose Bacallao/Heal the Bay

Following years of water leaks and debris falling from the eastern deck of the Santa Monica Pier, Heal the Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium will celebrate the completion of a new roof and will kick off the new “Meet the Locals” advertising campaign on November 18, 2006.

The Aquarium has been closed for two months during the construction and plans to reopen November 8. However, the official reopening on November 18th will welcome the community back with special marine education presentations and activities from 12:30p.m. to 5:00p.m.

The day will include special feedings at the Aquarium’s two largest exhibits, the Kelp Forest and Pier tanks, interactive education presentations and hands-on activities for all ages. Professional story teller/performance artist Diane Michelle will spin tales accompanied by music and puppetry throughout the day. Games and arts and craft projects will focus on the six Aquarium animals featured in the “Meet the Locals” campaign: the lobster, the sarcastic fringehead, the mussel, octopus, sea star and California sheephead. Activity stations for face painting and T-shirt art will also be offered.

In addition to the roof construction, other upgrades were accomplished as well; new Aquarium signage, including educational barriers on the patio and flags, will be debuted to heighten the Aquarium’s visibility beneath the pier.

The Roof Replacement

The Aquarium staff began documenting its leaky roof problems two years ago, when the second soggiest winter on record required sandbagging around the doors, positioning buckets strategically over tanks and computers, and the constant hum of dehumidifiers and fans to dry out soggy carpets. The Santa Monica Pier Maintenance staff took pity, lending a hand after each rainstorm, and devising stopgap measures to keep Aquarium workers dry — and insure the animals would be living in saltwater only.

This past spring the Pier Restoration Corporation and the city’s Resource Management Department recommended the Santa Monica City Council approve an expenditure of $240,000 to replace the roof above the Aquarium. City Council approved the proposal in June, and plans were put in place to begin the project in September.

The contract was awarded to John S. Meek Company Inc. and the Aquarium has been closed since September 6. Education programs, public hours and birthday parties have been suspended for the duration of the project.

Throughout the construction, staff continued to work at the Aquarium — some days with earplugs — and the animals were able to remain on site — without earplugs. The contractors built frames around each of the tanks, which were then draped with heavy plastic to make certain no dust or debris fell in the tanks.

As the pier planks were removed above, construction workers began something of an archeological dig: children’s souvenirs, a considerable amount of change and what appeared to be a wedding band were unearthed. The ring was examined by a jeweler, who pronounced it nothing but costume jewelry — and it was added to a collection of such trinkets.

New gutters, modifications to the roof and a new roof membrane are installed under the new pier decking, and the Aquarium staff are looking forward to continued success with education programs and public hours.

Be sure to stop by the Aquarium on November 18th to celebrate— and you can check your umbrellas at the door!