The World Aquarium in St. Louis, Missouri, has closed its doors ahead of a move to a brand new US$49m (€43.8m, £31.8m) facility on the city’s riverfront in 2017.

Details are sparse about the development at present, but it is known that a public competition will be held to design the new aquarium’s exterior and that it will be mainly comprised of steel and glass, according to aquarium president Leonard Sonnenschein.

“It’s going to come back bigger, better and stronger,” said Sonnenschein speaking to FOX2. “Instead of being in an old building with old exhibits with this adaptive reuse, we’re going to make it modern. It’s going to be steel and glass, and really an amazing structure.”

The World Aquarium, which currently sits within the City Museum, has suffered in recent years with lack of promotion from the museum and a separate entrance fee for the aquarium. The aquarium also came under fire in March when the nonprofit was cited for a series of violations in relation to poor sanitation, murky waters and unfed animals, with the US Department of Agriculture finding the attraction in violation of 12 regulations.

The aquarium – which currently houses 10,000 animals over 150 species – is part of a planned redevelopment of the city’s riverfront stretching north from the downtown area, with plans for new shops, businesses, restaurants and homes to spring up along the old industrial area, while plans are also in the works for a riverfront NFL football stadium.

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