Virginia Aquarium Foundation and city outline $9.6M repairs, propose $3.2M city appropriation

Mayor Bobby Dyer convened a special session of the Virginia Beach City Council on June 24 to receive updates on the Virginia Aquarium. Dan Peterson, chair of the Virginia Aquarium Foundation, told council the aquarium cares for more than 5,000 animals across about 250 species and reported roughly 620,000 visitors in fiscal 2024. Peterson said the Foundation has raised more than $100 million over its history and has provided audited financial statements to the city.

"The Virginia Aquarium is a third most visited attraction in the Commonwealth," Peterson said, framing the institution as both a community and regional asset. Foundation treasurer Buffy Barefoot walked council through a 10‑year breakdown of Foundation spending, listing capital, animals/exhibits, education/outreach, research/stranding, general and administrative, and fundraising as the main categories.

City staff presented two consultant assessments commissioned jointly by the city and the Foundation. The interior exhibit study (Bridal Underwater Services) and an exterior structural assessment (with Thornton Tomasetti as subconsultant) found that the aquarium’s core habitats — the seal, shark and turtle exhibits — have exceeded their design life and require timely repairs to avoid failure. "We're talking about a project on this side of the coin, $8,000,000," a city presenter said when summarizing interior exhibit repair estimates. The city presenter also stated, "the city share of that would be 40% or $3,200,000." City staff estimated exterior structural repairs at approximately $1.6 million (a city responsibility), for combined near‑term repair costs of about $9.6 million.

Staff advised that the interior repairs would extend the exhibits’ usable life by roughly eight to 10 years and recommended a two‑track approach: fund immediate repairs while planning a longer‑term replacement. To begin long‑range work, the administration proposed a $12 million design appropriation intended to support planning for a replacement facility estimated at about $120 million. Staff said design and construction could take roughly seven years and estimated a potential opening of early 2033 if the full program proceeds.

City staff said the $1.6 million exterior repairs are already included in the current capital improvement program; the council was told staff intends to bring an ordinance to appropriate the city's $3.2 million interior share in July or August 2025. The Foundation’s operational model review, conducted by Canopy Strategic Partners, is expected to conclude late in 2025; Peterson said the Foundation’s board also approved hiring two lobbying firms, Commonwealth Strategy Group and Rivco, to pursue state funding.

Council members pressed for details on revenue sources and legal constraints, including whether transferring or changing ownership of Foundation‑funded assets could affect the Foundation’s nonprofit status. Peterson cited legal advice saying fair market value is required if a city were to transfer Foundation‑funded assets; a council member questioned whether other legal perspectives exist and staff offered follow‑up with legal counsel and Canopy.

Next procedural steps: staff will brief council on the Canopy operational model when it is complete, and the administration said it plans to present an appropriation ordinance for the $3.2 million city share of interior repairs in the coming weeks. Council and Foundation members signaled interest in continuing coordinated fundraising and state advocacy while protecting animal care during immediate repairs.