A gravity-defying "martini glass" aquarium in the heart of Miami, engineered to bring the Gulf Stream to life.
The brief
The vision for the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science was to create a “Living Core”—a massive, 500,000-gallon aquarium that would span three floors and replicate the open ocean currents of the Gulf Stream. The design called for a unique cone-shaped vessel (resembling a martini glass) that would house hammerhead sharks and devil rays. The ultimate challenge? To create a corner-less environment that resolves in a massive 31-foot acrylic oculus lens at the very bottom, allowing visitors to gaze up into the deep ocean from the floor below. This was not just an installation; it was a feat of optical engineering that required defying massive water pressure to create a seamless, immersive view.
Scope of Work
Supply and precision installation of the 31-foot diameter acrylic oculus (the “Deep” level) and multiple large-format viewing panels for the “Vista” and “Dive” levels. Scope included complex rigging logistics for the 60-ton lens, proprietary glazing and waterproofing for the cone structure, and final optical polishing to ensure invisible viewing angles.
PHOTO CREDIT
Grimshaw Architects
The “Gulf Stream” exhibit is the structural and visual heartbeat of the museum. By installing the massive 31-foot oculus lens, we transformed a concrete cone into a portal to the deep. The crystal-clear acrylic supports the weight of 500,000 gallons of seawater while dissolving the barrier between the viewer and the marine life above. This installation captures our philosophy perfectly: utilizing heavy, high-stakes engineering to create a moment of pure, weightless wonder.
