Georgia Aquarium, Pemberton Place, Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Even before opening, the Georgia Aquarium helped drive new development in the area aiding efforts by the City of Atlanta and Central Atlanta Progress, a group of local business leaders, to revitalize downtown. In December 2004, a $300 million office and hotel development was announced for a nearby site. The complex is named Allen Plaza in commemoration of former Atlanta mayor Ivan Allen, Jr., and includes office space for the Southern Company and accounting firm Ernst & Young, as well as a W Hotel.
Programs
In June 2008, the aquarium announced its "Swim With Gentle Giants" program. This allows divers or snorkelers to swim with the whale sharks. Up to eight guests are allowed in the water at a time. Generally, there is one dive and one swim every weekday, and two dives on weekends although the program is open to custom groups. There is some controversy over the swim program because two of these sharks died in 2007 while in captivity at the Georgia Aquarium. Some experts feel that the human contact would expose the sharks to exotic germs. Visiting divers are instructed to keep a five-foot distance from the whale sharks and other fish while in the in 6.3 million US gallons (24,000 m3) tank. Divers are also able to document their experience with a commemorative DVD.