Seattle Aquarium’s much-anticipated Ocean Pavilion opens Aug. 29. The pavilion is the first project to be completed as part of the city’s waterfront renovation.

The pavilion — which Seattle Aquarium President and CEO Bob Davidson has called “the crown jewel” of the waterfront renovation — will house 3,500 sustainably sourced tropical fish, invertebrates, and plants representing more than 100 species. The reef features five windows and a public facing oculus, where passers-by can see leopard sharks, spotted eagle rays, and reef fish. Visitors can also see the Archipelago, a lush mangrove forest with small rays and schooling fish, and At Home in the Ocean featuring species including clownfish and seahorses.

The 50,000-square-foot Ocean Pavilion increases the aquarium’s campus by 50%. The aquarium anticipates that the structure will lead to a 50% increase in visitors, to 1.2 million annually.

“It’s incredible to see this vision brought to life after more than two decades in the making,” Davidson says. “Our mission has always been to inspire conservation of our marine environment.”

The rooftop of the pavilion will connect to the city’s Overlook Walk, scheduled to open this fall. When completed, it will connect Pike Place Market to the waterfront.