National Aquarium Harbor Wetland Wins ULI Baltimore WaveMaker Award

The National Aquarium Harbor Wetland has been honored with a 2025 Urban Land Institute (ULI) WaveMaker Award from ULI Baltimore. An annual honor given by the ULI Baltimore District Council, the award recognizes individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to the built environment in the Baltimore region by completing projects or initiatives that have positively impacted the community, promoted sustainable development, and improved the quality of life.

Completed in August 2024, National Aquarium Harbor Wetland is a 10,000-square-foot floating wetland located between Piers 3 and 4 of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Utilizing over 30,000 grasses and shrubs combined with water aeration technology, the project acts as green infrastructure to promote clean waters, attract native species, and provide a variety of habitats to support a healthy ecosystem. A free outdoor exhibit and civic anchor, the wetland also serves as a natural oasis in the city, allowing visitors to observe and learn about the many native species that call the Chesapeake Bay home.

In the year since it first opened, the wetland has already attracted more than 58,000 visitors as well as numerous species of fish, reptiles, crustaceans, mollusks, and birds from across the food web, rebuilding the Inner Harbor’s native species.

Harbor Wetland is one of ten projects honored with a 2025 ULI Wavemaker Award. All projects will be recognized as part of an awards program in October.

View the complete list of award winners.

Learn more about Harbor Wetland.