Work has started on the US$8m (€7.4m, £5.4m) St Augustine aquarium development, which will open later this year.

Situated at the heart of St Augustine – the oldest documented settlement in the US – the privately funded Florida-based attraction has been more than two years in the making. The project will be constructed in two phases, with the first consisting of an 80,000 gallon, 50ft diameter outdoor snorkelling pool, along with a zip line crossing ‘Shark Lagoon’ and a high ropes adventure course. Phase two will add 4,000sq m (43,000sq ft) of indoor/outdoor exhibit space housing more than 70 Florida marine species. A full-service restaurant will also be included.

Commenting on the development, Isabelle Rodriguez, president of the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, said the plans mean “more tax dollars coming in for St. Johns County to be able to grow the county as we move forward.”

The first phase of the project is expected to be completed at the start of Q2 2015, with the second phase set for Q3 2016. Dougherty Sommers Architects are behind the designs, while Baker Klein Engineering is handling civil engineering. St Augustine-based Marine Conservation Partners is working on design, fabrication and installation of the aquarium’s exhibits.