Florida's Clearwater Marine Aquarium has broken ground on its US$50m (€44.6m, £38.4m) expansion, a move which will more than double the space for its animals, including its famous dolphins Hope and amputee Winter.

The grand expansion will increase the aquarium in size from 60,000sq ft (5,500sq m) to 130,000sq ft (12,000sq m). One of the main developments will be the expansion of the aquarium’s famous dolphin tank, which will increase from 500,000 gallons in capacity to 1.4 million gallons. Officials are also planning to create a pelican habitat and make part of the adjacent waterway into a natural habitat for rescued marine life, while a new food court, coral reef exhibit, lab rooms, a theatre, facilities for animal life support systems and a new parking garage with space for 440 vehicles is included.

With two motion pictures based on the aquarium and its dolphins coming out in recent years, attendance has increased to more than 800,000 in 2015. The expansion would accommodate increased interest in the attraction, though some local residents and business leaders have said that the aquarium has outgrown the mostly residential area in which it resides.

Funding for the expansion has come from donors, corporate sponsors and government grants. The expansion is expected to be complete by February 2019.