Toledo Zoo in Ohio is entering the final stages of a three-year, US$25m (€21.5m, £16.4m) renovation of its aquarium, which has seen the interior of the historic facility completely renovated.

The aquarium, which first opened in 1939, was closed in 2012 for the renovations. The new development has almost tripled the amount of water inside the aquarium.

The aquarium’s new saltwater Pacific Reef holds 90,000 gallons of water – nearly 12 times the size of the aquarium’s previous largest tank. In addition, two touch tanks will allow visitors to interact with an array of sea creatures, including sharks and stingrays and a display of South African penguins. In total, the aquarium will house 32 main exhibits, plus further small tanks.

While the renovations have been underway, the zoo relocated the aquarium’s animals to a temporary facility in the zoo’s warehouse.

The building’s historic exterior architecture, by the Works Progress Administration, has been preserved during the construction phase. For the renovation, San Francisco-based EHDD was selected in 2010 as project architect, while local firm Rudolph-Libbe was appointed construction manager.

Around 80 per cent of the project was funded by a tax levy from Lucas County, with the remaining 20 per cent coming from private donations. The aquarium is set to have its grand reopening on 27 March.