Expected to open to the public in 2005, the Georgia Aquarium, along with the new World of Coca-Cola, is a project garnering a lot of attention -- and spurring excitement about Downtown's future development.

Central Atlanta Progress has been and will continue to have a part in shaping the development of these new attractions, along with the area around it.

This page is designed as a central resource for news and information regarding the Georgia Aquarium and the new World of Coca-Cola; it will be updated periodically.

News

Aquarium, Coke site strong team
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 4/27/05
The tourism duo of the Georgia Aquarium and the new World of Coca-Cola will boost the state's economy by nearly $200 million a year, pump an additional $255 million into state and local tax coffers over 15 years, and create as many as 3,300 jobs throughout Georgia, a study released Tuesday predicts.

Georgia Aquarium will anchor downtown tour package
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 4/24/05
The Georgia Aquarium has galvanized an effort to combine marketing plans for Atlanta's top tourist attractions in hopes of attracting more visitors and convincing them to stay longer. Promoters are creating tour packages that will offer discounted admission to the aquarium, the Imagine It children's museum, the World of Coca-Cola museum and tours of CNN and the Georgia Dome.

What you'll see inside Georgia Aquarium
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3/28/05
A closely guarded secret finally is out: The Georgia Aquarium will have five huge displays of aquatic life, including a deep-water ocean exhibit, a rare Indo-Pacific coral reef, and a 50-foot fishing trawler for kids and adults to play on.

A sneak peek inside the Georgia Aquarium
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3/28/05
A look at what will be inside.

Getting shipshape for new aquarium
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/19/05
The Georgia Aquarium has purchased 12,000 fish — with 43,000 more to go — for the giant ship-shaped building under construction next to Centennial Olympic Park.

Aquarium Web Site Officially Launched
10/19/04
The aquarium's new web site is officially online at http://www.georgiaaquarium.org.

Construction begins on Georgia Aquarium
The Story, 12/31/03
"The Marcus Foundation and the Coca-Cola Co. broke ground May 29 in downtown Atlanta for the location of the new Georgia Aquarium and the new location for the old World of Coke exhibition. The 20-acre complex is just north of Centennial Olympic Park on a site Coke used for its exhibit during the 1996 Olympics."

Aquarium Area Needs Sprucing
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 9/22/03
"While construction crews vigorously dig holes and pour concrete for the Georgia Aquarium, very little is being done to improve access to the attraction that is predicted to bring 2.2 million visitors to the heart of downtown Atlanta... This rate of progress is not what Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus had in mind when he urged the state and city to do all they could to support his $200 million gift of an aquarium. Marcus has continued to lobby heavily for greater state participation."

Novare Group closes on Peachtree Portal Land
Atlanta Business Chronicle, 9/15/03
"The Novare Group, headed by Atlanta developer Jim Borders, purchased 3.75 acres near the MARTA Civic Center Station (called Peachtree Portal) in downtown Atlanta. Borders purchased the land for $8.2 million, he said. The property was owned by The TCW Group Inc. "

Developers to Buy Big Downtown Site
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 8/14/03
"The 6.7-acre site covers three city blocks stretching from Williams Street to MARTA's Civic Center station on West Peachtree Street. The largest undeveloped tract in the central business district, the site now is covered with garages and asphalt lots that charge as little as a dollar a day... The site overlooks new condo developments adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park, the new Georgia Aquarium and planned site of a new home for the World of Coca-Cola. "

Business Leaders Still Make Things Move and Shake
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 6/2/03
"Two business leaders --- Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus and Coca-Cola Chief Executive Doug Daft -- determined the scope, vision and location of the aquarium and Coca-Cola attractions. Their contributions will do more to determine the future of the central city than anything since the 1996 Summer Olympics -- an effort also rooted in the Atlanta business community. "

Tourist Magnet in Baltimore
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 6/2/03
"Several other cities have built aquariums to spur renewal or to show off civic pride. Atlanta has a long tradition of borrowing such civic ideas, and the planning for the aquarium was no different; the Marcus team traveled the globe to get ideas for its 5-million-gallon attraction. The scene in Baltimore fueled Marcus' hopes that his attraction could entice families to visit Atlanta and spend money for lodging, food and gifts. He said as much at the Georgia Aquarium's groundbreaking last week."

Aquarium Benefactor Awash with Inspiration
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 6/1/03
"Following the unveiling of exterior designs last week for the aquarium -- it will resemble an ocean liner rising up over Centennial Olympic Park -- Marcus teased without divulging the exact nature of exhibits that will fill the new facility, which he describes metaphorically as 'an ark' that will help preserve and promote endangered species."

Fanfare Launches Aquarium
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 5/30/03
"The Georgia Aquarium that will open in 2005 is shaped like a modern Noah's ark, with a towering translucent bow lit from within that will stand as a new beacon of hope for downtown Atlanta."

City fathers pin downtown hopes on Aquarium
Atlanta Business Chronicle, 5/29/03
"Dignitaries from local government, the Marcus Foundation and The Coca-Cola Co. used fish-shaped shovels to break ground May 29 on construction of the Georgia Aquarium and the new World of Coca-Cola, a project city leaders hope will revive downtown."

Marcus Unveils Aquarium Design
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 5/29/03
"Bernard Marcus, financier of the Georgia Aquarium, unveiled the design for the future $200 million downtown Atlanta attraction Thursday morning before an enthusiastic assemblage of Georgia's business and political leaders."

Aquarium Floats Downtown Hopes
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 5/28/03
""There's a lot of excitement about this," said Debra Fassnacht, executive vice president of the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, which has drawn 1.6 million to 2 million visitors annually over the last 10 years. "I know Bernie Marcus is being very ambitious with this, so people want to know what the design will be like," she said. "What kind of animals will they have? Here's a chance to advance the state of the art. "

Georgia Aquarium Executive Director Moves Downtown
CAP/ADID, 12/30/02
"Jeff Swanagan, executive director of Atlanta's new aquarium, coming to Downtown, has bought a seventh-floor condo at Museum Tower."

Ground Breaking Ceremonies Held for Georgia Aquarium and New World of Coca-Cola
Georgia World Congress Center, 6/2/03
"The face of downtown Atlanta officially changed today as the Marcus Foundation and the Coca-Cola Company broke ground for the 5-million gallon Georgia Aquarium and the new World of Coca-Cola. "

Georgia Aquarium ditches Atlantic Station
for Centennial Park
Atlanta Business Chronicle, 8/12/03
"The Coca-Cola Co. will join with Bernie Marcus, co-founder of The Home Depot Inc., and The Marcus Foundation to create a major downtown Atlanta destination that will feature The Georgia Aquarium and a new World of Coca-Cola."

Press Releases, Information & Images

Georgia Aquarium Web Site
Go here for information updates; site will be updated and expanded as the project moves forward.

Coca-Cola Press Releases

• The Coca-Cola Company Announces Partnership with the Marcus Foundation to Create Major Downtown Destination and Visitor Experience, 8/14/02

Images of the Georgia Aquarium
Design and construction photos, as available.