On May 22 the Canadian Museum of Nature, Canada’s national museum of natural history, opened its new exhibits and reinvented historic building. The six-year, $216-million refit of the building was funded by the Government of Canada. The staff expected 5,000-8,000 people on opening day but hit 11,000 in the first three hours. By the end of the day they had finished with a record attendance of 20,500 people (the most ever recorded in a day previous was 4,500). According to staff, it was “a 16 hour day of constant mayhem, but totally exhilarating.” The following two days saw crowds of 10,000 people each.
Tenji designed and installed a freshwater aquarium for the new Water Gallery at the museum. A highlight of the new opening, staff said that people “wasted no time finding the river (exhibit) and were not disappointed. It was really wonderful.”