John G. Shedd Aquarium

The new $45 million South Wing of the John G. Shedd Aquarium is home to the immense Wild Reef exhibit. The underground exhibit includes a new 27,000 square foot wing, which houses a coral reef and shark tank.

Block Electric’s team faced many challenges in constructing the underground aquarium. Coordination with the concrete and exhibit contractors was key to the success of the project.

The critical parts of the electrical installation offered only one opportunity for us perform. Everything had to be routed around the 400,000-gallon shark habitat that occupies the featured center portion of the exhibit.

The Shedd’s South Wing has every aspect imaginable in an electrical construction project; industrial, commercial, institutional, and even healthcare.

The Wild Reef exhibit’s 26 interconnected habitats house over 500 species of reef fish in more than 750,000 gallons of water.

• Heating, cooling, and pumping systems for the 26 tanks
• Explosion proof rooms for the specialty chemicals
• Corrosion resistant materials
• Theatrical lighting
• Lighting controls and dimming systems
• Pool grounding at all the tanks
• Computerized interactive displays and exhibits
• Life safety systems
• Fire alarm
• Emergency power systems
• Exit and emergency lighting
• Extensive site lighting system