Like many structures, especially those exposed daily to the flow and surge of seawater, the Kelp Forest Exhibit recently needed a significant overhaul that involved over 100 staff members, thousands of hours of work, and partners from across the country in a construction effort that took over two-and-a-half years to complete.

The team behind the project managed to keep the exhibit open and enchanting visitors without draining the water or removing the animals — something that had never been successfully attempted before.

Over the last few years, the concrete rockwork in the Kelp Forest started showing small signs of wear and tear, until 880 pounds of artificial rock wall came down all at once in December 2019. That demanded immediate attention. Luckily, no animals were hurt or even seemingly even bothered by the accident, but Aquarium leaders knew right away that this would not be a quick fix.

What ensued was an undertaking of epic proportions. First, the team had to evaluate the damage and determine if other rockwork was also vulnerable to failure. They had to assess what needed to be excavated, rebuilt, and reinstalled. Second, they had to figure out how to do the work without disrupting the lives of its inhabitants and without closing the signature exhibit to the public. Third, they had to identify the collaborators to help bring this project to life.

“Nobody had ever done this before, and it ended up being an institutional effort,” George (He/Him) said.

George teamed up with Aquarium leader Scott Greenwald (He/Him) and together they began crafting a construction plan they believed could be completed within nine months. They knew from the beginning that emptying the Kelp Forest and closing it down was not an option, so they brainstormed how to approach a project that was already going to be difficult — one that became even more so when they decided to not drain the water.

George recalled hearing a five-minute presentation given by a colleague on the East Coast who faced a similar challenge — doing construction in an underwater exhibit without draining it. After reaching out to them for advice, George and Scott, together with colleagues from across the Aquarium, began to assess the damage and make a plan.

The area where the rock wall collapsed was going to need the most work, starting with demolition of the damaged section. They initially removed more than four tons of failing rockwork. George and Scott coordinated daily with animal safety and water quality teams to ensure the living exhibit wasn’t being impacted by their work.

What they initially envisioned as a nine-month project eventually took close to three years to complete. Since the dramatic rockwork failure occurred just three months before the onset of the pandemic, progress slowed because of staffing shortages and increased health and safety measures put in place. Occasional power outages and the logistics of installing new rockwork pushed back deadlines as well. Despite the obstacles they faced, George and Scott stayed the course.

Today, with new rockwork in place, the bare surfaces are rapidly being colonized by algae and encrusting invertebrates, and fishes are exploring the new niches and alcoves. It's a sight Aquarium visitors haven't experienced since 1984.