PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles is moving forward with plans for a new Marine Discovery Center, supported by $15 million from NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries through the Inflation Reduction Act. The Feiro Marine Life Center and NOAA’s Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary are partnering to create the facility, which will be located on the Port Angeles Waterfront Center campus.
Feiro Executive Director Melissa Williams says the funding will accelerate the project timeline.
“So, this is a completely transformational award. It will actually advance our project progress by more than two years in one fell swoop, and we are really excited about the potential to open our new building in January 2028,” said Williams.
So far, 68% of the project’s funding has been secured. Williams outlined the next steps.
“We have started again with our designs, which will go through schematic and design development in 2025, with the goal of completing those phases in the first quarter of 2026 and breaking ground in the second quarter of 2026,” said Williams.
However, she noted that additional funding is still required to complete the project.
“We still need about $10 million for construction. We’re continuing to fundraise, but this puts us so much closer to our goals that we just really think this is great. We’re moving ahead and making sure we’re doing due diligence on the remainder of our fundraising,” said Williams.
She added that the current center at City Pier in Port Angeles will remain open and fully operational for the foreseeable future.
“We do still have programs and exhibits at our current location on City Pier. We don’t anticipate any changes to that. I would say, maybe by the end of 2027, people should still come by and see the animals,” said Williams.