The renovation and expansion of the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium included a two-story structural steel building featuring an Aquatic Nursery, Exploration Center, and the Virginia Reid Moore Library. The construction included exhibition spaces for marine species and educational conservation displays, administrative offices, and learning resource/library reference areas. Design and construction are considered contextually sensitive considering the buildings purpose; including the placement of the aquarium’s equipment and highly technical facilities used to run the marine laboratory.