According to the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), as of September 2005, there are 210 accredited zoos and aquariums in the United States. As the majority of these institutions are funded by non-profit organizations and rely heavily on visitor support, the ability to balance both animal exposure and animal health is of primary importance. To achieve this balance, zoos and aquariums employ a number of design schemes including “walkthrough” and “wheel and spoke.”

This study explores how aquarium design relates to attraction of visitors at two AZA accredited aquariums: Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration, located in Mystic, Connecticut and the New England Aquarium in Boston, Massachusetts.