Shedd Aquarium Oceanarium Renovation and Addition

Aquarium Architectural History

Billed as “The World’s Aquarium,” Shedd Aquarium in Chicago is one of the largest indoor aquariums in the world. The core facility at Shedd is the original 1930 building designed by Graham Anderson Probst and White. With significant additions of the Oceanarium in 1991 and Wild Reef in 2003, Shedd has maintained its position with periodic, well-executed exhibits and attractions. In support of the aquarium’s educational and conservation mission, VDT developed a five-year exhibit and facility master plan to ensure the continued success of the institution, which was completed in 2006. 

Aquarium Renovations

The plan identified a need to refocus investment on enhancing the exhibits in the Oceanarium and to improving the visitor experience. The result was the renovation of the existing Oceanarium, construction and renovation of 35,000 SF of exhibit areas, renovations to existing food services along with the addition of a new outdoor terrace, and updated guest services amenities. These changes also included enhancing the Sea Lion and Sea Otter habitats, and the creation of an encounter pool where groups of eight visitors have an up close encounter with Beluga Whales in a specially built habitat.

With the closing of the Oceanarium for renovations, we identified the opportunity to construct a new 24,000 SF workspace on the Oceanarium roof, enabling staff offices to be consolidated. This addition also allowed for the integration of rainwater collection.

To achieve these changes VDT’s architecture and interiors studio coordinated the work self performed by Shedd, numerous consultants and with the General Contractor where all these changes were completed during a nine month period in 2009 when the Oceanarium was closed. All work was completed with a focus on sustainability.