On a warm autumn afternoon, with school groups milling nearby and civic leaders gathered under the shadow of the Tennessee Aquarium’s familiar peaked roofs, a significant shift unfolded on the Aquarium Plaza. After more than three decades of delivering educational programming from scattered corners of its campus, the Tennessee Aquarium opened the STREAM Learning Center – a centralized home for the hands-on learning that has touched students and educators since the Aquarium’s debut in 1992.
Supported by a major gift from Unum, the new center brings the Aquarium’s education mission out of hallways, conference rooms and borrowed space and places it directly on the Plaza – the most visible stage the institution has. That move, Aquarium leaders say, is more than cosmetic.
“This space was thoughtfully designed by our education team to ignite curiosity and bring learning to life,” said Natali Rodgers, the Aquarium’s director of learning and evaluation, as she welcomed elected officials, partners and guests to the Nov. 20 ribbon-cutting ceremony. “Being on the Plaza is something we’re very excited about. Being more visible will help spread awareness of our work and impact.”
For decades, the Tennessee Aquarium has been known for its ability to inspire awe – towering freshwater habitats, neon-bright reef fish and interactive experiences that draw children to the glass. But its educational reach extends beyond the exhibits. The organization supports teacher workshops, in-stream field programs, seasonal camps, overnight experiences and an ever-growing catalog of digital and in-person learning opportunities.
Until now, however, all of that programming existed without a true home.
33 years in the making
Andy Wood, president and CEO of the Tennessee Aquarium, told the crowd that creating a dedicated education space has been a long-standing aspiration.
“Thirty-three years ago, we deepened the connection to the river and the Southeast river systems by bringing these connections to nature here at the Tennessee Aquarium,” Wood said. “Today, we take 33 years of learning and launch a new center that will deepen those connections.”
That decadeslong timeline matters, Wood emphasized. For most of the Aquarium’s history, educators have been resourceful – teaching wherever space could be carved out inside the River Journey building or IMAX Theater. Bringing those programs front and center on the Plaza symbolizes how integral learning is to the Aquarium’s identity.
“Education sits alongside conservation, guest experience and community engagement as a pillar of the Aquarium’s mission,” Wood said. ‘To finally have this beautiful new facility that puts education front and center on our plaza is exciting.”
The STREAM Learning Center – named for science, technology, research, engineering, arts and mathematics – occupies roughly 4,500 square feet in a fully transformed building that once housed a downtown food court. What was once the site of quick meals and tourist foot traffic is now a vibrant educational hub lined with bright murals, custom habitats, flexible classrooms and tools designed to help young learners build knowledge.
What STREAM means
Before introducing the day’s speakers, Rodgers took a moment to articulate the philosophy behind STREAM, an expanded version of the well-known STEM model that folds in research and the arts as essential components of learning.
“STREAM is more than an acronym,” she explained. “It’s the philosophy that combines STEM’s analytical strength with the creativity of the arts, as well as the critical thinking skills needed to conduct research. This approach ensures youth are not only skilled but also adaptable and innovative in a rapidly changing world.”
That holistic mindset guided the center’s design. The Aquarium’s education staff – those who write curriculum, coordinate school groups, run field experiences and work with students – shaped the architecture and layout. Through countless planning sessions, they pushed for elements that support real learning: ambassador animal habitats for close-up lessons, storage for hands-on materials, water bottle refill stations and sensory-friendly rooms intended for visitors with autism, ADHD, PTSD or sensory sensitivities.
“It was important to me that our education team help shape this space,” Rodgers said. “Having their perspectives reflected was critical.”
The murals – floor-to-ceiling landscapes of forests, oceans and estuaries – were designed in-house and intentionally embedded with “teachable elements.” Students can stand beside a life-sized osprey nest, observe native and non-native species and connect artwork to discussions about habitats and environmental stewardship.
Unum’s commitment to education
The center exists because of significant philanthropic support from Unum Group, a Chattanooga-based Fortune 500 company with deep local ties. For years, Unum has funded student visits to the Aquarium, particularly for youth from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The new STREAM Learning Center represents both a continuation of that commitment and an expansion of it.
“Through our partnership with the Tennessee Aquarium and the STREAM Learning Center, we’re giving kids real-world experiences that spark curiosity,” said Unum CEO Rick McKenney. “We’re proud to support hands-on learning that sets the stage for future success.”
McKenney noted that more than 23,000 students – many from low-income families – have participated in Aquarium programs supported by Unum over the years. The new center, he said, will deepen that investment.
“This also supports Hamilton County Schools and strengthens the curriculum that benefits the entire region,” McKenney said. “We’re proud to put our name behind this and work with the Aquarium and educators to give them a space where they can do their magic.”
A community effort
In addition to Unum’s foundational gift, Tennessee American Water and the American Water Charitable Foundation funded the STEM-focused classroom within the center. Their contributions helped outfit the space for experiments and hands-on activities – one of the cornerstones of STREAM instruction.
Scott Pierce, board chair of the Tennessee Aquarium Board of Trustees and an executive vice president at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, used his time at the podium to thank the partners who enabled the project and to call attention to its long-term influence.
He described walking past a group of students arriving for an Aquarium field trip just before the ceremony.
“They came here to learn, and we might never fully know the impact this experience will have on them. They’re getting a chance to learn about conservation, our environment, our freshwater resources and the species that depend on them. It’s profound.”
Addressing McKenney directly, he added: “I hope you know what greater good you have done today.”
Opportunity by design
For educators in Hamilton County Schools, the STREAM Learning Center represents not only a physical space but a new avenue for partnership.
Superintendent Dr. Justin Robertson drew laughter as he recounted realizing that the Aquarium – which was built during his teen years – was now 33 years old. But he quickly pivoted to the seriousness of the moment.
“Opportunity comes by design, meaning there’s intentional effort to create it.”
After meeting with Wood earlier this year, Robertson said he was struck by how deeply the Aquarium’s education staff had infused purpose into the new center.
“When Andy talked about what his education team was doing here, he wasn’t talking about a space,” Robertson said. “He was talking about the intentional design that’s going to create opportunities for our kids.”
Students from The Howard School and Chattanooga STEM School were invited to be the first to enter the new facility – an honor Robertson said was fitting, given the content-rich programming they routinely engage in.
“We already have kids here,” he said, gesturing to the students standing in the crowd. “This is going to create opportunities not just for students at STEM but across the county.”
He also pointed to Howard’s culinary arts team, which catered the event as part of its ongoing work-based learning practice, as a real-time example of what intentional design and community partnerships can produce.
More than a building
Throughout the ceremony, speakers returned again and again to a central theme: that the STREAM Learning Center is more than a building. It will host school groups, educator workshops, public programs, Aquarium camps and overnight events. It will allow staff to expand professional development offerings for teachers – something Rodgers said is essential for sustaining the Aquarium’s impact.
“I don’t want to design programs that no one can use,” she said. “It’s important to have teachers’ voices at the table, so we’re building authentic relationships with them.”
The movement she describes is rooted in the belief that fostering curiosity can change the trajectory of a child’s life.
Or, as she reminded the audience by quoting Nelson Mandela: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
A future unfolding
For the first time, the Tennessee Aquarium’s sprawling educational enterprise has found its home. And in that home, future scientists, artists, conservationists, engineers and curious young minds will take their first steps toward a future they build.
“Kids are born with a scientific mindset,” Wood said earlier in the afternoon. “It’s that innate curiosity of how we learn that will fuel this center.”