A New Home on the Waterfront

Building For What’s Next

After more than 45 years in its current space, Feiro Marine Life Center has outgrown what its facility can support.

The Olympic Coast Exploration Center is designed to meet that need — expanding what’s possible for education, exhibits, and community engagement.

This is not just a larger building.

It’s a long-term investment in how people experience, understand, and care for the marine environment.

People walking and gathering outside modern glass-fronted building with a large whale sculpture inside, on a sunny day with cloudy sky.

A Shared Waterfront Campus

The new center will be located at the Port Angeles Waterfront Center on the west end of downtown Port Angeles.

It will be part of a broader campus that includes the Field Arts & Events Hall and the future Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Cultural Center.

Together, these spaces create a destination that brings together arts, science, culture, and community life — reflecting the full identity of the Olympic Peninsula.

The location strengthens visibility, accessibility, and the center’s role as a gathering place for both residents and visitors.

Aerial view of a waterfront park with three labeled buildings: Field Hall, Elwha Cultural Center, and Olympic Coast Exploration Center, with mountains in the background.

Focused On Community Growth

At approximately three times the size of the current facility, the Olympic Coast Exploration Center allows for:

  • Expanded exhibits and immersive experiences

  • Increased visitation, with capacity for an additional 55,000 visitors annually

  • Improved operational efficiency and infrastructure

  • More space for education, research, and conservation programming

This expanded footprint supports both immediate needs and long-term sustainability.

People walking and gathering outside a modern glass building with a large interior space and a parked sports car in the foreground.
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More Than a Building

Floor plan of an educational or research facility, showing rooms with exhibit titles such as 'Ocean Science in Action', 'People & the Ocean', and 'Biodiversity', along with various labeled sections and features.

The design of the new facility supports a broader range of experiences and deeper engagement.

VISITORS WILL BE ABLE TO:

  • Explore interactive exhibits grounded in current marine science

  • Engage with local ecosystems through hands-on learning

  • Experience the connection between people, place, and water

  • Participate in programs shaped by ongoing research and conservation efforts

The building is designed to support both everyday visits and long-term impact.

Designed With Intention

The Olympic Coast Exploration Center is designed to reflect the character of the region — its coastline, ecosystems, and cultural history.

THE SPACE PRIORITIZES:

  • Accessibility for a wide range of visitors

  • Flexibility for evolving exhibits and programs

  • Infrastructure that supports modern standards for animal care and sustainability

Every element of the building is shaped by how it will be used — and who it serves.

Illustration of an aquatic exhibit featuring a large whale suspended above a glass viewing area with underwater scenes, posters, and display screens.
World map with a silhouette of a man and child holding hands in front of it, and circular photos of ocean scenes and people enjoying water activities on the right side. Text overlay: "One Ocean Unites Us."
Exhibit poster titled "Creatures of the Deep" with illustrations of deep-sea creatures on a white wall inside a museum or science center.
An illustrated scene of a bird exhibit with a large glass enclosure, featuring bird families sharing the coastal zone, with silhouettes of people observing the display inside the exhibit.

The Transition Is Underway

  • Person looking at a large presentation screen displaying a floor plan and a report overview.

    Architectural design finalized. Community input gathered. Federal and state funding secured.

    2024-2025

    Design & Engineering

  • Construction workers operating heavy machinery outdoors, wearing safety vests and helmets.

    Groundbreaking on the Port Angeles waterfront.

    September 2026

    Construction Begins

  • Underwater scene with a large anchovy and a rusty metal structure with the word 'RIVEL' partially visible.

    Current facility closes as construction nears completion.

    September 2027

    Feiro Marine Life Center Closes

  • Modern glass building with people walking outside and cars parked nearby.

    Doors open to the community and visitors from across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

    2028

    Olympic Coast Exploration Center Opens

Be part of something that will last for generations.

This project is made possible through a combination of public funding, private support, and community investment. With significant funding already secured, the next phase focuses on bringing the full vision to life.

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