A new 35,000sq ft (3,250sq m) Sea Life aquarium is coming to Michigan, US, with the new attraction set to open its doors in Auburn Hills in early 2015.

Merlin Entertainments said it has reached an agreement with the city and the Great Lakes Crossing outlet mall’s management company, Taubman Centers, for a spring opening of Sea Life Michigan.

The aquarium will feature more than 30 marine life displays, including shrimp, starfish, seahorses, sharks and rays, as well as a tropical ocean tank with a walk-through tunnel. Plans also include showcasing marine life specific to the Great Lakes.

“North America is a very important growth market for Merlin, and we believe that Michigan, and particularly Great Lakes Crossing Outlets is the ideal location for Sea Life. We are particularly delighted to be working with Taubman, and hope this will be just the beginning of a developing relationship with them,” said Glenn Earlam, managing director of Merlin Entertainments’ Midway Attractions group.

“This support, together with our proven success in other similar projects nationwide, underlines our belief that Auburn Hills, and particularly Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, is a perfect location for a quality family-based leisure attraction. We are therefore delighted to be able to move our plans forward.”

Plans and designs are already being drawn up for Great Lakes Crossing Outlets and construction will begin by June 2014.