When Berglund was selected to replace the entire skylight in the Shedd Aquarium‘s nearly 100-year-old rotunda, they brought in Building Blocks to manage the intricate terra cotta crown ornamentation. This distinctive feature supports the Beaux Arts building’s overall aquatic motif with sea turtles, shells, and eels. Terra cotta replacement pieces were made out of glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) to match original pieces that were retained and cleaned. The overall project was well managed by Berglund to divert nearly 85% of construction debris from landfills.

The process to restore and improve the iconic rotunda skylight was a collaborative effort with the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois to ensure that the Shedd Aquarium building would maintain its distinction as a National Historic Landmark. The finished result vastly lower’s the Shedd’s annual energy consumption and preserves the building’s whimsical, iconic terra cotta ornamentation for the next 100 years.

Architect

Graham, Anderson, Probst & White