Georgia Aquarium Cafe Renovation
Atlanta
BEST PROJECT
Sent by: Brasfield and Gorrie
Owner: Georgia Aquarium
Main design company: PGV
General contractor: Brasfield and Gorrie
Structural Engineer: Long + Case
MEP Engineer: Exp US Service Inc.
Food Service Designer: Dennis G. Glory Inc.
The $19.5 million interior renovation of the Georgia Aquarium’s existing cafeteria was aimed at improving the guest experience, increasing food service capacity and updating food service offerings. On the first of two levels, the cafeteria connects directly to the existing upper atrium and houses an entrance, a 3,500 square meter kitchen, a food service area and capacity for 250 guests. The approximately 6,700-square-foot second level connects to the lower cafeteria via an elevator and two newly constructed staircases. It has capacity for 275 diners, a hot kitchen and a large-format projection surface.
The design replaced underutilized spaces and added contemporary technologies in food service equipment, audiovisual elements, lighting systems and themed finishes. As part of that effort, crews demolished an existing theater and office space at the aquarium.
In addition to the new and improved experience and efficient operational upgrades, the design added square footage that increased occupancy with the addition of a new mezzanine structure. The new dining area also offers guests a view of downtown Atlanta that was previously unavailable in the building.
Photo by Rick Holliday
The location of the project within the aquarium proved particularly challenging for the construction crews in terms of both logistics and access. The construction area was located in the center of the aquarium on the second floor of the building, surrounded by busy areas that are critical to the aquarium’s operations and guest experience. The construction footprint was directly above the main entrance, main exit, gift shop, jellyfish exhibit, and shark exhibit. On the second level, the boundaries of the project extended to the areas of active facilities, the main aquarium atrium, the upper part of the shark exhibit and the tropical diver exhibit, as well as the aquarium’s executive office space. Any impact on these areas could have been detrimental to the aquarium’s operations.
In these areas, crews demolished existing aerial spaces, systems and elements located more than 68 feet in the air. Crews also erected a new third-level structure and installed kitchen, electrical and mechanical equipment on the roof that needed to connect to existing systems safely and without disruption to active aquarium operations.
Photo by Rick Holliday
Since the new cafe is located inside an aquarium, the team conducted noise and vibration tests to ensure marine life was not disturbed in the surrounding exhibits. Coordinated logistics plans were created to load materials into and out of active areas of the building without interfering with the public.
Fabricating steel for the structure required scanning existing elements to coordinate with existing conditions. It also required the pre-engineering of members to fit the building and join together once in the space. Without access to conventional means of transporting concrete, the project required the development of a lightweight concrete mix design that had to be pumped from a boom truck to the roof and through approximately 200 feet of line of hose slides along the roof and down into the building.
Faced with numerous challenges, the team was able to complete the project in December 2023 without impacting operations, delivering on time and on budget.
