The new S.T.R.E.A.M. Learning Center (Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Arts, Math), supported by UNUM, will be a hub for the Aquarium’s educational offerings. It will serve as a home for: educational programs like Sea Sprouts, River Teachers (professional development), all seasonal camps, and more!

The center’s unique design features three flexible learning spaces with opportunities for hands-on experiences related to water and wildlife that are not available in traditional school classrooms. Each immersive learning space has a distinctive theme to encourage deeper exploration through fun and interactive educational programming.

The building’s design was directly influenced by the Aquarium’s educators. Their input led to the incorporation of features such as additional storage, water bottle refilling stations and a pair of low-stimulation “sensory rooms” to meet the needs of visitors living with autism, PTSD, ADHD or similar sensory challenges.

Each of the center’s teaching spaces is dominated by vivid, floor-to-ceiling murals depicting a particular habitat, including an estuary, forest and ocean. Designed by the Aquarium’s graphic designers, the murals are packed with whimsical, stylized animal illustrations that incorporate — again thanks to input from educators — teachable elements such as a true-to-life size osprey nest and the inclusion of non-native animals to spark discussions about invasive species.