Seattle Aquarium

The seemingly simple window Reynolds Polymer manufactured for the Seattle Aquarium in 2007, is backed by thousands of calculations to ensure the window not only was engineered properly but that it also provided superior visibility into the aquarium behind it.

The Result

A 20 foot tall (6m) and 40 foot wide (12m) acrylic window is installed at an angle to maximize the viewing area and make you feel as if you are part of the exhibit itself! The panel is cantilevered to angle gradually forward and overhangs eight feet at the top. Because of the depth at which it was installed for the 120,000 gallons (454,000 liters) tank behind it, the acrylic window is 12.5 inches thick (318mm).

The Window on Washington Waters exhibit is modeled after Neah Bay’s rock blades. The exhibit is filled with salmon, rockfish, sea anemones, and other marine life native to the state, they live amid the kelp-filled seawater in the wild and in this environment. Three times a day divers wearing specialized masks dive down and are able to talk to the visitors about the exhibit and the wildlife within it.