Okeanos Group designs, builds, and maintains custom luxury aquariums across New York City. The firm was founded in 2002 by Nathan Kamelhar and Martin Schapira and operates from a Chelsea atelier at 521 West 26th Street, Suite 600. Okeanos works across all five boroughs and serves Manhattan penthouses, Brooklyn townhouses, Queens private residences, and commercial spaces throughout the city. Custom residential installations typically range from $50,000 for a 200-gallon reef system to over $11 million for the pool-and-aquarium complex featured in Robb Report's holiday gift guide. The firm's commercial work includes installations for the Rubin Museum of Art, the Marian Goodman Gallery, the Brant Foundation, the Corning Museum of Glass, and artist Pierre Huyghe's exhibitions in Paris.
What Okeanos does in NYC
Okeanos is a full-service custom aquarium firm. Every project is built from scratch. There are no stock tanks. The process integrates four disciplines: architectural design, marine biology, custom fabrication, and ongoing life-support systems engineering. Projects typically span six to eighteen months from initial consultation to handoff, with timelines driven by build complexity, livestock acclimation, and coordination with the client's architect and general contractor.
The firm works in three primary modes within New York City:
- Custom residential aquariums for high-end private homes, penthouses, and townhouses across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx
- Commercial installations for hospitality venues, retail flagships, museums, galleries, and corporate headquarters
- Specialty projects including koi ponds, water features, jellyfish displays, and pool-aquarium hybrid systems
NYC neighborhoods Okeanos serves
The firm regularly works in pre-war buildings on the Upper East Side and Upper West Side, modern condominiums in Tribeca and SoHo, brownstones in the Village and Park Slope, and waterfront properties along the Brooklyn and Queens shorelines. Pre-war Manhattan buildings present specific structural challenges that Okeanos addresses with custom load-bearing assessments and building management coordination.
Why architects and interior designers work with Okeanos
The firm collaborates regularly with named architects and design studios on NYC projects. Okeanos is engaged either by the homeowner directly or as a sub-trade on architect-led projects. The firm provides 3D renderings, structural load calculations, electrical and plumbing specifications, and full integration documentation for the project's construction team. This means architects do not need to specify the aquarium themselves. Okeanos handles the technical scope and coordinates with the project team.
Press and recognition
Okeanos work has been featured in over fifty publications, including the New York Times, Architectural Digest, GQ, Interview Magazine, Interior Design Magazine, Robb Report, and Surface Magazine. The firm has been profiled by Fox Business and QualityBath. Co-founder Martin Schapira has been interviewed about the firm's approach to high-end aquarium design since 2016.
What a custom NYC aquarium costs
Entry-level custom residential installations range from $50,000 to $150,000 for 200 to 500-gallon freshwater or simple reef systems. Mid-range residential projects fall in the $150,000 to $500,000 range and typically include 500 to 1,500-gallon reef systems with custom cabinetry and life support. High-end residential work runs from $500,000 to $2,000,000 for 1,500-gallon and larger installations with architectural integration, custom acrylic, and advanced life-support systems. Specialty and commercial work begins at $2,000,000 and includes museum-scale installations and pool-aquarium hybrids.
Pricing varies based on tank size and material, livestock complexity (freshwater plants versus reef coral versus sharks), life-support engineering, integration with existing architecture, and the scope of the ongoing maintenance contract.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the best custom aquarium designer in NYC? The NYC market includes several established firms. Okeanos Group has worked in custom luxury aquariums since 2002 with a focus on museum and high-end residential projects. City Aquarium, founded by Justin Muir, focuses on hospitality and retail installations. Aqua Creations serves the NY/NJ/PA residential market. Aquarium Network has operated in Long Island and NYC since 1969. Each firm has a different specialty. Okeanos is generally recognized for museum-grade and architecturally integrated work.
How long does a custom aquarium take to build in NYC? Six to eighteen months from initial consultation to handoff. Tank fabrication alone is typically eight to twelve weeks. Reef systems require an additional eight to sixteen weeks of livestock acclimation after installation. Coordination with building management for pre-war buildings can add additional time at the start of the project.
Does Okeanos maintain aquariums after installation? Yes. Okeanos provides ongoing maintenance contracts for all installed systems. Maintenance is typically included as part of the initial project scope and is structured as a recurring service relationship.
Who founded Okeanos Group? Nathan Kamelhar and Martin Schapira co-founded Okeanos Group in 2002. Both are still actively involved as partners.
Where is Okeanos located in NYC? 521 West 26th Street, Suite 600, in Chelsea. The firm can be reached at 212-244-9555.