The New England Aquarium in Boston presents itself as a compact structure with an exposed concrete façade that is rhythmically structured by narrow vertical windows. A striking feature is the central, cylindrical tower, which houses the four-storey Giant Ocean Tank and characterizes the appearance of the building.

In 1996, Schwartz/Silver Architects designed a new west wing for the building. The building is clad in custom stainless steel “fish scale” style metal panels with custom wheel finishes. It is a multi-story, 81,000-square-foot addition to the old building, more than doubling its previous size and is therefore architecturally dominant. The extension includes new permanent exhibitions as well as extended catering and retail areas. The extension was completed in 1998.

This building was included in the red list, published in our exhibition catalog SOS Brutalism: A Global Survey (September 2017). After a status review on September 30, 2024, it was reclassified in the online database from red (endangered) to gray (least concerned / unknown).