Exploration Center Highlights As the gateway to Monterey Bay, the future Exploration Center serves the entire Central California region and beyond, and will foster stewardship of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) by connecting people with and educating them about the water, geology, ecosystem, and the extraordinary diversity of its waters.U.S. Green Building Council’s standards for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The visitor will experience:
Dynamic, interactive and multi-media exhibits designed for both children and adults
A theater with wide-screen, real-time, underwater video
Hands-on samples of geology and watershed and biodiversity displays
How to appreciate and preserve the natural resources in the sanctuary
Visitors may choose to interact with English or Spanish for each exhibit:
Banners in English and Spanish to introduce each area
Key concepts translated into Spanish on the graphic panels and video displays
The building will contain:
State-of-the-art teaching classroom
Gift shop
Administrative offices
The building will serve as:
A multi-modal transportation center with a potential rail stop
Bicycle facilities
Pedestrian connections to the City of Santa Cruz’s central Depot Park
Exploration Center Goals:
Involve and educate visitors about the sanctuary’s unique and fascinating coastal and marine natural resources
Instill in visitors a sense of personal stewardship with regard to the sanctuary and an understanding of how to help protect it
Provide orientation for visitors as they enter the sanctuary, so they will use and enjoy it in a responsible and sensitive manner
Construct an environmentally sensitive building that will demonstrate the advantages of sustainability
