Aquarium Under Protest

Austin Aquarium boycott group mobilizes in wake of animal death reports

The new Austin Aquarium is still months away from ever opening, but it's already being protested by local marine wildlife lovers.

In the wake of reports of a horrific death log at the new Austin Aquarium owners' similar facility in Portland — which were detailed in CultureMap earlier this week — a Boycott the Austin Aquarium Facebook page has materialized and it's picked up more than 500 supporters in a few days. The boycotters describe themselves as "a group of local residents concerned about the welfare and treatment of the fish and animals at the Austin Aquarium and the method by which they were obtained."

When contacted by CultureMap, the Facebook page's creator said she needed to stay "anonymous."

The Austin Aquarium is promoting itself as the "Aquarium of the Future" and season passes are already being sold.

It's easy to see what's spurred the boycott's sudden surge in popularity though. The Oregon Humane Society is investigating reports of more than 200 animal deaths in a three-month period earlier this year at Vince and Ammon Covino's Portland Aquarium. The brothers are behind the new Austin Aquarium being built at 13530 N. US 183 in the former Lack's Furniture store space.

And they insist the new aquarium will open by the end of this year as planned. The Austin Aquarium is promoting itself as the "Aquarium of the Future" and season passes are already being sold.

"We're on track," Vince Covino tells KXAN. "Everything is going just as planned."

Recent history at the Portland Aquarium might suggest otherwise.

The animal death log — first leaked to The Oregoniannewspaper — includes instances of death by starvation, infection, incorrect water temperatures and animal-on-animal attacks. The Portland Aquarium has been open for just nine months. The 200-plus animal deaths occurred between Feb. 18 and May 16.

The Covinos may find a more organized animal-defending community in Austin, one that's already reacting to those stats.

"As many local Austinites are, it's important to be conscientious of where our money, time and energy goes," a post on the Boycott the Austin Aquarium page reads. "This community was set up to spread the word that the Austin Aquarium is a for-profit establishment."

Austin Aquarium co-owner Vince Covino is already living in Austin.

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A Towering Task

Famous UT Tower will look new again after years of renovations

Photo courtesy of the University of Texas at Austin

The Tower in its current state.

One of the most famous sights at the University of Texas at Austin, the Tower, is soon undergoing a big renovation. It'll take a few years, estimated through the summer of 2027, but when it comes out the other side it should look like as new as it did in 1937.

The project is called “Our Tower: The Next 100 Years,” and it will start exterior work in November. It is part of a $70 million budget that was improved in August, and it'll include work on the "stone, windows, lighting, clockface, and historic gilding on the facade," according to a press release.

This will mean repainting metal and wood, applying gilding, and reconstructing the east and west entrances, all in their original colors and styles.

Some renovations were announced in 2022, but this announcement gives a more complete look at what will be done — and some of the work is coming as soon as this fall.

A rendering of the Tower after renovations looks the same, but cleaner.Rendering courtesy of the University of Texas at Austin

“The most iconic symbol of The University of Texas, the Tower represents the long-standing tradition of excellence this great University is known for,” said UT System Board of Regents chairman Kevin P. Eltife int the release. “This restoration is one of the board’s top priorities, and we are thrilled the work is getting underway. We want every UT student, faculty and staff member, and alum to have a sense of pride as they walk across the Forty Acres, and especially when they see the Tower restored to its former glory.”

Some of the work is also to improve how the Tower functions, including updating exterior lights to work with LEDs, replacing some roofs, and fixing up windows for better energy efficiency.

A summary by the University of the project's scope so far.Graphic courtesy of the University of Texas at Austin

The project will be led by Robert A.M. Stern Architects LLC (RAMSA), which partially specializes in historic renovations and has worked on other university projects, including at Yale, the University of Portland (in Oregon), Georgetown University (in Washington, D.C.), the University of Connecticut, and other stately buildings.

UT Tower spandrels Someone repaints the cast iron spandrels in 1969. They depict five ancient alphabets: Egyptian hieroglyphics, Phoenician, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.Photo courtesy of the University of Texas at Austin

The Tower will keep serving its current purposes throughout the process, including as a commemorative surface for burnt orange lighting, although it will be fitted with scaffolding and a decorative covering, along with the main building, which will be covered first in November. The Tower and the main building's south facade will stay uncovered until after commencement in 2025.

“Our Tower was built as a sign of audacity and a young university’s aspirations for excellence. Nearly a century later, we have those same characteristics. The Tower represents what is possible for a world-class university that is committed to creating knowledge and teaching tomorrow’s leaders to change the world,” said UT President Jay Hartzell. “Thanks to the vision and support of our Board of Regents, and the generosity of alumni and friends, we are ready to begin realizing the future for our most important University landmark.”

A 2027 view of the West Entrance.Rendering courtesy of the University of Texas at Austin

Funding doesn't come entirely from the Board of Regents’ budget; it is also from the Available University Fund and individual gifts. The campaign to provide funding is ongoing, led by Marcie and Bob Zlotnik. The amount raised will eventually determine the final scope of the project.

“Bob and I are honored to contribute to such a historic project for the University, which will restore the Tower to its former luster and secure its legacy for future generations of Longhorns,” said Marcie Zlotnik. “The Tower holds such a special place in our hearts, and through the very earliest phase of this effort, we have relished connecting with many of the University’s friends and supporters to reignite our collective love for it.”

More information about the Tower is available at tower.utexas.edu.

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