Architectural Program
For Architects
The best aquarium installations are the ones that look like they were always there — as if the building was conceived around the water feature, not retrofitted with one. That level of integration does not happen at the FF&E stage. It happens in schematic design, when structural, mechanical, and architectural decisions are still fluid.
Okeanos Group has collaborated with architectural firms on luxury residential, commercial, hospitality, and mixed-use projects since 2002. We understand how architecture offices work, we speak the language of construction documents, and we provide the technical deliverables your team needs to incorporate an aquatic feature without friction.
Start an Architectural ConversationWhat We Bring to Your Project Team
When you bring Okeanos in at the design phase, we function as a specialist subconsultant — producing documentation that integrates cleanly with your construction set:
- Structural load data for your engineer — dead loads, point loads, and distribution requirements for floor and wall installations
- MEP coordination documents — electrical load schedules, dedicated circuit requirements, plumbing rough-in locations, and sump room sizing
- Shop drawings and dimensional specifications compatible with your CAD and BIM workflow
- Material and finish specifications for millwork integration — cabinet fronts, frame materials, and surround finishes matched to your palette
- Access panel coordination — maintenance access requirements detailed for your millwork and GC teams
- Construction administration support — site visits and RFI responses during installation phase
"We've worked on projects where the aquarium was an afterthought and projects where it was designed in from day one. The difference in the final result is significant — and so is the difference in the construction process."
Okeanos Design Team
Technical Specifications We Provide
Structural
All Okeanos installations include detailed weight calculations for your structural engineer. A 300-gallon built-in installation fully loaded with water, substrate, and equipment typically exceeds 3,000 pounds. We provide distributed and point load data, recommend reinforcement approaches for above-grade installations, and flag any conflicts with existing structural members early in the design process.
Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing
Every aquarium requires a concealed life-support system — typically a sump located below or adjacent to the display. We provide exact sump room dimensions, ventilation requirements, dedicated electrical circuit specifications (typically one or two 20-amp circuits for residential scale, more for larger commercial installations), and any plumbing connections required for water change automation. All of this is documented in a format your MEP engineer can incorporate directly.
Millwork and Cabinetry
Built-in aquariums are cabinetry projects as much as they are aquatic installations. We provide full dimensional drawings, material specifications, and hardware schedules for your millwork contractor. We can work from your existing casework details to ensure the aquarium surround matches the room's architectural language precisely — or we can design and fabricate the millwork ourselves as part of our scope.
Installation Formats We Build
Project Delivery
Our typical project timeline for an architecturally integrated installation runs 14 to 20 weeks from design engagement to final commissioning — including fabrication, millwork coordination, installation, and livestock introduction. We provide regular progress documentation and are available for OAC meetings throughout the construction phase.
We have delivered projects on tight urban construction schedules in Manhattan, worked alongside major general contractors on commercial builds, and coordinated international shipping for overseas installations. We are accustomed to operating within demanding project environments.
Begin a Project Conversation
We welcome early-phase conversations — even at the concept stage, before a project is fully defined. Contact us to discuss your current project, request our technical specification package, or schedule a meeting at our New York studio.
Start an Architectural Conversation212-244-9555 · [email protected]
521 West 26th Street #600, New York, NY 10001