BFLNov.08 19/11/08 11:17 am Page 45
water play
Merlin Entertainments’ 36,000sqft SEA LIFE Aquarium
has opened at the LEGOLAND Resort in California.
THE TWO-STOREY aquarium designed by Kay Elliott architects features 36 displays
holding more than 250,000 gallons of water in 14 themed rooms. It accommodates more
than 200 species and includes “Fin Facts” and quiz trails in order to provide an interactive,
inspirational and educational child’s guide to the life of the sea.
Ocean tunnel
Key features of the aquarium include: the Discovery Zone, where guests can interact with
marine life experts, touch tide pool animals and take an inside look at the lives of sea
creatures from special pop-up viewing stations; the Shoaling Ring, where guests are
surrounded 360-degrees by schools of swimming fish; and the Ray Lagoon where several
species of rays appear to ‘fly’ through the water in Mayan temple ruins. There is also a
35-foot-long acrylic ocean tunnel allowing visitors to walk through and experience the
Lost City of Atlantis. Improving
Featured creatures include sharks, rays, jellyfish, seahorses, an octopus and several
species of freshwater fish, which can be found in California lakes and streams, as well as
air quality at
cold water marine animals native to the California coastline.
Derek Elliott, md of Kay Elliott, told bfl: “What sets this aquarium apart from any other is
busy pool
the fact that it is entirely geared towards children ages two to twelve. By incorporating
[72] LEGO elements, we were able to connect the two attractions on the resort and, most LLOYD ELLSMORE PARK Leisure
importantly, provide a fun experience for children while teaching them about conservation.” Centre in Manukau City, New Zealand
lays claim to having the busiest leisure
Interactive
pool in the southern hemisphere.
Consequently, water and air quality have
been considered a priority.
This has involved removing the
chlorine smells and eye irritations often
associated with leisure pools. Since the
aquarium
operator installed a Hanovia UV system
to control combined chlorine (also known
as chloramines), combined chlorine
levels have fallen from 1.8ppm to 0.5ppm.
This has resulted in a “much improved
pool environment”, says centre manager
can inspire and educate
Gary Burr. “People find they no longer
need to use eye goggles and don’t smell
of chlorine when they leave the pool. The
water is also much clearer – transmission
has shot up from 80% to 95% – from
cloudy to clear.”
Discharged water
Other benefits include a big reduction in
the amount of dilution water required,
according to Burr. “Before UV we were
replacing about 600m3/water per week,
just to keep combined chlorine levels
down, and this has now fallen to virtually
zero. All in all, the reduction in costs for
new water, discharged water, lost
energy and lost chemicals are
considerably lower.”
The UV system unit installed at Lloyd
Ellsmore Park is a Hanovia medium
pressure PSP UV system, which can
treat up to 220 m3/hour, based on a UV
dose of 60 mJ/cm2. An automatic wiper
keeps the sleeve housing the UV lamp
clean, so the only regular maintenance
required is changing the lamp every nine
to twelve months – a simple operation
that is carried out by on-site staff. The
UV disinfection system is compact and
can usually be installed within existing
pipework with minimal disruption.
November 2008 building forleisure 45
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