The world’s largest marine science museum, Chimelong Spaceship, opened in Spring 2023.

This ocean world has a high tech theme throughout, from the spaceship inspired architecture to the virtual reality experiences inside. Separated into 10 unique zones, the museum features animals from both the Northern and southern Hemispheres, which can be viewed inside the immersive exhibits area. Models, lighting, and visual effects enhance the experience by displays of ancient seabed with extinct fish and other sea creatures. Interactive multimedia terminals throughout the park will tell the story of particular species of animals, allowing children to learn about how they live in the ocean.

The buildings share size, progressive design, as well as integration of menagerie, edutainment, and entertainment making the aquarium stand out among other similar projects worldwide. Functions, such as breeding and R&D are featured. The projects also used structural engineering involving the basin foundation and the dome structure.

Hetzel Design teamed up with Legacy entertainment to produce concept design for this groundbreaking facility. Legacy provided creative direction, storytelling and show design, while Hetzel was in charge of architecture, planning and exterior design esthetics.