The Seattle Aquarium’s One Ocean, One Future Campaign seized on a once-in-a-generation opportunity: inspiring thousands of people to protect and preserve the ocean from the heart of Seattle’s iconic new waterfront. The $160 million campaign to build the Ocean Pavilion was not only a chance to extend the Aquarium’s story beyond the Pacific Northwest and live out its conservation mission in new ways, but add a regenerative, 100% fossil-fuel-free building to its campus that models Seattle’s commitment to sustainability.
Over almost 8 years of work with the Aquarium, we helped their team draw out the vision and messaging that matched the scale of this effort, decades in the making. We recognized that this campaign’s visibility had the potential to reach new people in new ways—from digital storytelling to youth education to civic action. To support the Aquarium’s fundraising strategy, we built out tailored messages and materials for different audiences that all came back to a central theme: rallying around the one world ocean that supports all life on earth, from the Seattle waterfront to the Coral Triangle in the Western Pacific Ocean.
Throughout endless roadblocks—construction delays, elections, a pandemic, and more—we were able to equip ambassadors with foundational messaging and flexible tools that stayed relevant and inspiring. The Ocean Pavilion officially opened to visitors in August 2024, drawing in visitors from around the globe.
A campaign—and a vision—of this magnitude took perseverance, flexibility, and deep partnership, and we were proud to help Aquarium leaders and community members bring it to life.