A new US$12m (€10.5m, £7.8m) Legoland Discovery Center will join the popular Sea Life aquarium as a Merlin attraction at the Arizona Mills outlet mall in Tempe, Arizona, the attractions giant announced today.

Scheduled to open in 2016, Legoland Discovery Center Phoenix will be Merlin’s seventh such attraction to open in the US. The indoor attraction will offer an interactive and educational experience specifically designed for families with children between the ages of 3-10 years old. The three-hour package consists of a range of Lego play areas, including a brick pool, master classes from a Lego Master Builder, a Lego-themed ride, special party rooms for birthdays, a 4D cinema, and the popular Miniland exhibition – which will be themed around Arizona landmarks nominated by the local community.

Work on the development is set to start in June 2015, with Lego models for the attraction to be made in Merlin’s specialist studios worldwide and construction to be ready for a Q1 2016 opening. The site is of special significance to Merlin, as it's where the company opened its first ever US attraction – Sea Life Arizona in May 2010.

“We have an excellent working relationship with Merlin at many of our properties and are very pleased to welcome Legoland Discovery Center, their best global brand, to Arizona Mills,” said Gregg Goodman, president of Arizona Mills. “This, together with Sea Life, which Phoenix has embraced as its own special aquarium in the desert, will play a key role in our plans to create a family entertainment district within Arizona Mills.”