Twelve years after Hurricane Sandy devastated Coney Island, recovery continues. The final phase at the NY Aquarium requires renovating Conservation Hall and a temporary facility for relocated marine equipment.
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- Projects
- New York Aquarium
Supporting Recovery Efforts After Hurricane Sandy
Brooklyn, NY
Innovative Storage Solutions
Project Overview
To facilitate the renovations, marine equipment was relocated into a temporary structure that will remain in place for three years.
The facility consists of ten 8’ W x 40’ L shipping containers, adjoined to create two partitioned spaces designed to house both freshwater and saltwater equipment and marine animals.
6/0 x 6/8 exterior doors and interior openings were built to accommodate the installation of large tanks and aquariums, while ensuring ongoing access for equipment used to transport fish and other marine life in and out of the facility.
New York Aquarium
Government & Municipalities
Shipping Containers
155 Days
Brooklyn, NY
Meet stringent IIB non-combustible requirements of NYC Building Codes + Provide resistance to salt water on the interior
3-D Walkthrough
How Cassone Delivered
Challenge
NY Aquarium did not have the space or resources associated with the numerous hours and resources required for coordination, closures, and access control in conventional construction on a site open to the public daily.
Plus, any temporary building needed to meet the stringent IIB non-combustible construction requirements of NYC Building Codes, as well as provide resistance to a saltwater environment on the interior of the building.
Solution
With the use of Cassone Leasing’s modular construction, New York Aquarium was able to eliminate costs associated with conventional construction. The fabrication would occur offsite, and then be installed on location in key window of time so not to disrupt a public site.
To meet key construction demands, Cassone Leasing used 2-part poured epoxy flooring, FRP over moisture-resistant gypsum on the walls and ceilings with stainless steel fasteners, and weatherproof electrical devices, conduit, and light fixtures.
To meet the energy codes, Cassone utilized closed-cell spray foam insulation due to its resistance to water and mold and high R-value density. However, spray foam insulation thickness is limited in IIB applications. To solve this, the roof was constructed using tapered ISO insulation and .060 mil White EPDM to achieve complete energy code compliance.
Outcome
COST-EFFECTIVENESS AND 2 DAY INSTALLATION TIME
Cassone fabricated the containers off-site using the NYC “Special Inspections” process, allowing approximately 95% of the structural construction to occur off-site. Installation of the building lasted 2 days, as opposed to the several months it would have required for conventional onsite construction.
NY AQUARIUM HAS FUTURE PLANS FOR THE STRUCTURE
The building is constructed as an S2 -Storage Use Group. When the renovations to Conservation Hall are completed and the marine life are moved into their permanent homes, the owner is considering other uses for the building as an Operations & Maintenance Facility, Food Storage, or continued use to house marine life. Regardless of its future use, the building will be easily disassembled and relocated to a new location on the property.
Received HONORABLE MENTION in 2025 MBI’s Awards of Distinction – Modular Building Awards in Relocatable Modular Special Application.
