Ocean Wonders: Sharks!

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Ocean Wonders: Sharks! is the newest major exhibit at the oldest continuously operating aquatic museum in the United States, the New York Aquarium in Coney Island, Brooklyn. The project is a three-story addition to the aquarium that includes an underwater tunnel that guides visitors under a coral reef, nine dynamic galleries, and a rooftop observation deck with views of the Atlantic Ocean. A ‘shimmer wall’ by artist Ned Kahn is made up of more than 40,000 free-swinging aluminum scales that wrap the building and move in the wind, which creates the appearance of sharkskin. With more than 115 marine species and 18 varieties of sharks and rays, the exhibit brings some of the most elusive sea creatures from the ocean depths to up-close encounters the with visitors. It is the first exhibit to focus on local marine life from the bays and bight from Cape May, New Jersey to Montauk, New York. The NYC Public Design Commission has recognized Ocean Wonders: Sharks! with an Award for Design Excellence.

The pursuit for the opportunity to build Ocean Wonders: Sharks! was most memorable because the proposal and presentation pivoted on the unique knowledge of one specialist. In fact, this individual was more than halfway across the country and had not been engaged with the company for some time when the request for proposal was issued by the client, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Finding staff to manage the trades for a project, estimating and scheduling the cost and duration of the work, and even finding relevant experience is business as usual for most pursuits but to have someone on the team who truly understands the details of the client’s plans and has the ability to articulate their total knowledge in a project approach and relate it to the client during the sales presentation is invaluable, and what wins work. When the specialist came onboard, the idea was just to help out with the approach but WCS recognized the talent of this employee and were all ears as the expertise unfolded.

One of the remarkable features about Ocean Wonders: Sharks! is the location. It's a ten-minute walk from a couple subway stations that connect to all of New York City, and it's across the very active boardwalk from the Atlantic Ocean. As a component of New York City’s revitalization plan for the historic seaside Coney Island neighborhood, it's part of a very deliberate initiative to revitalize one of the greatest placemaking spots in the United States. In the late 19th Century, Coney Island was America's biggest and most visited seaside resort and amusement park destinations. The project also served as a big step toward recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. The exhibit is better described as an experience. In addition to the viewing of the various tanks, the knowledgeable staff teach visitors about shark biology and their role in the ecosystem, and they raise awareness about specific conservation actions, such as reducing plastic consumption, and about buying sustainable seafood.