The Ucluelet Aquarium is a community triumph. Manifested from a small group of very dedicated local people and countless hours of effort. The aquarium is a testament to what can be accomplished when people get together for the common good. The aquarium is an incredible educational asset for the coast, especially for our youth. Indeed it is my child that has peaked my interest into the minute details of the marine environment around me. There is an unparalelled opportunity to be intimate with creatures from our oceans and the staff is incredibly well informed and engaging. They are currently the only aquarium in the world that releases their specimins every year.
Last year was the first year of operation in their new building. During a prolonged closure for winter maintenance and upgrades the staff put a call out for volunteer help of all kinds. I responded and was tasked with building something to hide some unsightly pipes and make a home for the brain box controller for the big tank.
Inspired by the curved roof and interior walls and specimen tanks I designed and built this cabinet. As always, balancing form and function, this piece emerged. It is 5 1/2 feet tall and 40 inches wide. The bottom section has a locking hinged door to access the controller. The body of the cabinet is built from 4 layers of 1/8 inch mahogony plywood bent over a 3/4 inch plywood frame. There are pieces of douglas fir trim and the finish is Osmo Oil. A low VOC natural oil/wax floor finish.