None of the exhibits were themed, and many of the tanks seemed to be lined up in neat, square rows. The cavernous rotunda, capped by the classic white dome, featured a deafening echo and was poorly lit. The building's concrete nature was glaringly apparent both inside and out, as bare, grey concrete walls defined almost every public space. But trouble arose almost immediately when visitor and critics' reviews turned decidedly negative. In its first year of operation, the aquarium hosted 1.6 million visitors.
Constructed primarily of cast concrete, accented by large glass and aluminum facades and topped by a large, white fabric dome, the aquarium was completed at a total cost of about $52 million. The original building was designed by the architectural firm The Hillier Group and became a centerpiece for a virtually abandoned area.
The Academy oversaw the design and construction of the original attraction jointly with the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. Originally known as the New Jersey State Aquarium at Camden, the aquarium was operated by the non-profit New Jersey Academy for Aquatic Sciences, an organization chartered in 1989 to run the aquarium and further its mission of education and conservation. Inspired by the success that other cities, particularly Baltimore, had experienced with their own marine life centers, the New Jersey legislature approved the bill that included the aquarium's construction order in the late 1980s, and Governor of New Jersey Thomas Kean signed it into law. This proposal aimed to counteract the negative image painted of Camden and draw in revenue that would further help the city. The New Jersey State Aquarium was planned to revitalize the Camden waterfront, using the aquarium as a focal point for a shopping center, a hotel, and high-rise residential buildings.
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