ARCHITECT’S Review of the Vision & Technology Supporting the Beloved Monterey Bay Aquarium

Information sourced from Architect Magazine

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Gideon Fink Shapiro, ARCHITECT contributor, and Ph.D. candidate in architectural history and theory at University of Pennsylvania, has just published a look behind the architectural vision, sustainability and resilient design and construction of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Now 32-years-old, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is on track to reach the half-century mark handily. In his fascinating review, Gideon explains how it was successfully designed to run seawater through-out the building.

The Monterey Aquarium, was – and is – ahead of its time. Designed by EHDD, Syska conceived the advanced mechanical systems, including:

  • A sophisticated water-circulation, or “ aquatic life-support,” system;
  • A heat-exchange system to leverage seawater;
  • A heat-recovery system which transfers heat and cooling between the symbiotic human – and marine-climates efficiently, using seawater to balance everything is out
  • A technically-advanced plumbing system, which is as important as the building itself

Go here for a terrific read, illustrated with original design renderings.

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