Construction firm Skanska has been selected to deliver a major expansion of the Cox Science Center and Aquarium campus in West Palm Beach, Florida. Announced on December 23, 2025, the project calls for the construction of an 86,000-square-foot, two-story Hall of Science that will significantly expand the institution’s exhibition, aquarium, and STEM education capacity.
Formerly known as the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, the Cox Science Center and Aquarium will gain new state-of-the-art spaces designed to accommodate an expanded aquarium program, permanent and traveling exhibitions, and hands-on science learning environments. The project is designed by PBK, with a focus on enhancing visitor circulation and supporting interactive educational programming. Planned exhibits include a Gulfstream tank, Shark and Ray touch tanks, and dedicated galleries highlighting Florida’s Everglades and mangrove ecosystems.
Credit: Cox Science Center and Aquarium.
As part of the scope, Skanska will construct a two-story structure incorporating approximately 115,000 gallons of aquarium volume distributed across 16 saltwater and freshwater exhibit tanks. Upon completion, the expansion will position the Cox Science Center and Aquarium as Florida’s fifth-largest aquarium. Construction sequencing has been planned to allow the existing facility to remain open to the public throughout the build.
“Skanska is honored to partner with the Cox Science Center and Aquarium on this transformative expansion that will enhance Florida’s appeal as a leading destination for science education and aquatic exploration,” said Frank Longo, South Florida Vice President and Account Manager at Skanska. “As a global leader in sustainable and innovative construction, we are proud to deliver a project that not only advances critical STEM learning but also showcases cutting-edge design and engineering.”
A key feature of the expansion is the Gulfstream Tank, described as the largest concrete exhibit tank within the facility. The tank will incorporate a single acrylic viewing window measuring approximately 14 feet high by 24 feet long and weighing roughly 20,000 pounds. To facilitate installation, the building design includes temporary openings in the second-floor and roof decks, allowing the panels to be set in place after the structure is enclosed and climate controlled.
Credit: Cox Science Center and Aquarium.
“We are very pleased to be moving forward with Skanska, who we selected after an exhaustive market review,” said Eric Stonestrom, Board Chair of the Cox Science Center and Aquarium. “Their long operating history and ability to provide a strong locally based team with specific aquarium skills are making this collaboration a great partnership.”
Credit: Cox Science Center and Aquarium.
Structurally, the Hall of Science will utilize a hybrid system consisting of cast-in-place concrete and CMU walls, precast concrete joist elevated decks, and a structural steel roof. Exterior and interior architectural expression will include exposed architectural concrete, stucco finishes, and a curtainwall façade. Supporting infrastructure will be housed in a separate pre-engineered metal building containing aquarium life-support systems and holding tanks, along with a freestanding utility plant designed to accommodate chillers, fire pumps, and other critical mechanical equipment.
Skanska’s South Florida portfolio includes several high-profile cultural and institutional projects, among them the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science in Downtown Miami. That facility, which achieved LEED Gold certification, is widely recognized for its integration of science education, aquarium environments, and advanced building systems, and serves as a precedent for the firm’s work on complex museum and aquarium developments.
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Glad they are making an expansion, but a really unimaginative design for a museum especially on the outside.