The National Aquarium plans to lay off 30 employees as part of a “strategic restructuring” that will take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.
Employees were told about the restructuring plan and job eliminations this week. The notification came less than four months after Jennifer Driban started as President and CEO of the private, non-profit organization, considered one of the top aquariums in the United States and the largest paid cultural attraction in Maryland. Located at 501 E. Pratt St., the aquarium had a paid staff of more than 350 employees and another 500 volunteers as of July 1, the date Driban became its President and CEO.
This will be the largest workforce reduction at the aquarium since March of 2020, when approximately 100 employees were furloughed and salaries for others were temporarily reduced due to the government-mandated shutdowns and other disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. All of the employees who were furloughed in 2020 were offered their jobs back and received full back pay for the temporary salary reductions they took.
The new layoffs come as MCB Real Estate is planning to close and demolish the Harborplace pavilions at Pratt and Light streets and begin rebuilding the Inner Harbor promenade and bulkheading just west of Pier 3, where the aquarium is located.
It will be the first time the promenade has been rebuilt since the aquarium opened in 1981. The construction work is expected to continue for years.
The city is also planning to close portions of Light Street and Pratt Street near the aquarium, if Baltimore’s Planning Commission and City Council approve legislation that was introduced this fall. The Planning Commission is scheduled to vote on the street closing plan on Nov 19.
The construction work is expected by local tourism professionals to result in a drop in attendance at Inner Harbor attractions such as the aquarium and the USS Constellation and its education center on Pier 1. Most of the tenants at Harborplace have moved out to make way for MCB’s project.
Driban addressed the latest restructuring in a press release dated Oct. 27 and titled: ‘A Message to the National Aquarium Community.’ She did not mention MCB’s project or the city’s street closing plan in her message.
Here is the full text:
Dear National Aquarium Community,
This week we shared with our employees the news of a strategic restructuring that will take effect January 1, 2027.
We’ve designed this new structure to ensure the Aquarium remains sustainable and resilient, the animals in our care continue to thrive, and we are able to connect people with nature for generations to come.
The new organizational design includes shifts to department structure, key responsibilities, titles, the addition of several newly created positions, as well as the elimination of 30 current positions.
Of course, any change to our workforce has a ripple effect; these are our people, our neighbors, our friends, and we are committed to supporting them through this transition.
There are a number of reasons we’ve come to the decision to restructure our organization. We are facing the same economic challenges as other organizations in the region and across the United States. Materials, services, and utilities all cost more, while operating revenue growth has not increased at the same pace.
The Aquarium is now 45-years-old, and we face increasing expenses to maintain and improve our campus, experience and complicated systems. Our facilities are operating 24 hours per day as we are home to over 10,000 animals, habitats that comprise over 2.2 million gallons of water, and welcome approximately 1.2 million guests per year.
We are a private nonprofit organization that does not receive ongoing dedicated federal, state or city funding to support our operations. Around 70% of our operating revenue comes from visitor experiences. Your visit to the National Aquarium, ongoing membership, and/or annual donation directly funds the care of our animal population, provides children with science education, and supports the dedicated team of people who make it all possible.
Over 45 years, the National Aquarium has weathered natural disasters, a global pandemic, and major changes in our industry and our city. As our world around us changes, we must evolve.
What will never change is our commitment to you. We will continue to create educational and enjoyable visitor experiences, inspire our neighbors to care for animals and the ocean planet, and provide strong economic impact for the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland.
The new organizational design supports longevity and forges a strong path forward for the National Aquarium in fulfilling its mission to connect people with nature to inspire compassion and care for our ocean planet.
We remain deeply grateful for your support.
Thank you,
Jennifer Driban
President & CEO
National Aquarium
