You can almost feel the penguins marching towards the Albuquerque BioPark. The City took a moment to mark the “topping off” of its Penguin Chill Exhibit Thursday, where the final steel beam was signed by those in attendance and hoisted onto the structure.

Against the backdrop of a busy construction site, Mayor Richard Berry took time to commend those involved in the project.

“This project is not only going to be great, it’s on budget and it’s on schedule. We want to celebrate the men and women behind us wearing hard hats and steel-toed boots who are making this happen for us and our families.”

The $12 million Penguin Chill will be a premiere facility for the BioPark. The sophisticated building features a 75,000 gallon salt water tank, multiple viewing levels, and advanced life safety systems to replicate the penguins’ natural habitat.

HB Construction Executive Vice President Zach Gruen remarked on the togetherness of the project team. “I just want to recognize the partners that make this possible. We’re only as good as the people we work with.”

Van H. Gilbert Architects, HB Construction, and BioPark staff have worked together to make sure the complex building comes together quickly while minimizing disturbance to animals and visitors. While the work has been intense, the team knows it could be working on the project of a lifetime.

“The BioPark is the number one attraction in the state of New Mexico, and this building behind us, the Penguin Chill, will be its number one attraction,” said Mayor Berry. “It’s going to be a rock show over here.”