Okeanos Group works with architects as a specialist consultant and sub-trade on custom aquarium scope. The firm has collaborated with architects and architectural firms since 2002 across residential, commercial, museum, and gallery projects in NYC, the tri-state area, and internationally. For architects, Okeanos handles the full technical scope of the aquarium, delivering specifications and documentation in formats compatible with standard architectural practice.
Why architects work with Okeanos
Custom luxury aquariums sit at the intersection of structural engineering, MEP engineering, marine biology, and finish-level craftsmanship. The scope doesn't fit cleanly into any standard CSI division, and architects who try to specify and coordinate aquarium scope through standard channels typically encounter integration problems late in the project. Okeanos provides the architect with a single point of contact for the entire aquarium scope, delivered in the documentation formats the architect already uses.
The firm has worked with architects including Dieter Vandervelpen, Doug Battersby, Dave Collins (Feltz Collins), Ofir Asiass, and others on tri-state and international projects.
What Okeanos delivers to the architect
For each project, the firm provides:
- 3D renderings of the proposed installation in context, suitable for client presentation
- Structural load specifications, including dead load, live load (water + livestock), and concentrated loading for the structural engineer's review
- Electrical scope: dedicated circuits, load calculations, GFCI requirements, UPS specifications for life-support, equipment room layout
- Plumbing scope: water supply for water changes (RO/DI typically), drain provisions, emergency overflow specifications
- HVAC adjacency considerations: heat rejection from equipment, humidity from evaporation, sound from circulation pumps
- Cabinetry and millwork integration documentation, including access provisions for ongoing maintenance
- Fire protection coordination: typical specifications for sprinkler avoidance over the tank, tempered glass requirements if applicable
- Acoustic considerations: pump and equipment noise, isolation recommendations
This scope is delivered in DWG, PDF, and standard project documentation formats compatible with the architect's existing workflow.
Coordination phases
Okeanos engages with the architect at three phases of a typical project:
- Schematic design: preliminary scope, dimensional envelope, conceptual renderings, structural load estimates for the SE's preliminary analysis
- Design development: detailed integration documentation, full MEP scope, refined renderings, cabinetry coordination with the millworker
- Construction documents: final specifications, shop drawings, coordination with the general contractor's bid set
The firm can be engaged at any phase, though earlier engagement reduces integration risk and typically produces a better final installation.
Project types architects commission
The firm's architect-led projects span:
- High-end private residences, both new construction and major renovation
- Museum and gallery installations
- Hospitality projects (hotels, restaurants, private clubs)
- Healthcare facilities (specialized acoustic and biosecurity considerations)
- Corporate headquarters and reception spaces
- Religious and ceremonial spaces requiring specialized water systems
- Specialty residential scope: wine rooms, home theaters, master bath water features
Notable past collaborations
Okeanos's project history includes installations at the Rubin Museum of Art, the Marian Goodman Gallery, the Brant Foundation, the Corning Museum of Glass, and Pierre Huyghe's exhibitions in Paris. These projects involved coordination with major architectural and museum design teams under museum-grade documentation and approval requirements.
Engaging the firm: how to request a trade consultation
Architects interested in working with Okeanos can request a trade consultation through the firm's contact page or by calling 212-244-9555. The first conversation establishes the project's scope, timeline, and budget envelope, after which Okeanos produces a preliminary proposal and conceptual rendering for the architect to share with the client and the broader design team.
Frequently asked questions
At what project phase should we engage Okeanos? Ideally schematic design, but engagement at any phase is workable. Earlier engagement reduces integration risk because structural loads, MEP scope, and architectural integration can be designed in rather than retrofitted.
Can you produce documentation compatible with our BIM workflow? The firm produces documentation in DWG, PDF, and standard formats. Direct BIM integration is project-specific; the firm coordinates with the project's BIM manager when required.
Do you have museum and institutional experience? Yes. The firm's institutional work includes the Rubin Museum of Art, Marian Goodman Gallery, Brant Foundation, Corning Museum of Glass, and Pierre Huyghe's Paris exhibitions. Museum scope involves specialized documentation, approval processes, and integration requirements that the firm is experienced with.
Do you work internationally? Yes. The firm has installed projects in Paris, London, Dubai, Miami, Los Angeles, and Australia. International projects involve additional logistics that are scoped per-project.