Lighting the Way: Illuminating the Sobela Ocean Aquarium

Welcome to the Luminii Live Light Blog, where we explore the captivating realm of lighting design. In this insightful Q&A, we delve into the design process behind the Sobela Ocean Aquarium at the Kansas City Zoo, highlighting the innovative lighting strategies that bring this immersive marine experience to life. Carlos, founder of Lightchitects Studio, shares his vision for creating an environment that captivates visitors while supporting the well-being of marine life. From the challenges of coordinating lighting with architectural elements to the thoughtful integration of sustainable practices, this discussion explores how lighting can enhance the storytelling of ocean ecosystems. Join us as we uncover the key aspects of this remarkable project and its impact on both conservation and visitor engagement.

Carlos, could you share a bit about your background in lighting design?

While pursuing my architecture degree in 2007, I began working at a prestigious lighting design studio, where I discovered my passion for lighting. I became captivated by how light transforms the built environment and the immense impact of thoughtfully integrating lighting with architecture.

Driven to deepen my knowledge, I secured a Fulbright scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in Lighting Design at Parsons, The New School for Design in New York City. This experience allowed me to refine my expertise, eventually leading me to establish Lightchitects Studio in 2015.

With over 17 years of experience, I’ve had the privilege of working across a wide range of building typologies, including residential, hospitality, retail, restaurants, high-rise buildings, museums, temporary exhibitions, art installations, and aquariums. One of our notable projects is the Sobela Ocean Aquarium at the Kansas City Zoo, which marks the second aquarium we’ve completed. Currently, we’re working on two additional aquarium projects in the U.S.

For those unfamiliar, what can you tell us about the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium?

The Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium offers visitors the opportunity to experience the ocean’s depths, a realm that many have never encountered firsthand. This new space, known as the Sobela Ocean Aquarium, provides a fully immersive marine experience.

The design is inspired by marine currents, using this concept to narrate the journey through various ocean environments. The exhibits reflect the dynamic nature of these ecosystems and support the zoo’s mission in conservation and education.

Visitors begin their journey at a tropical shoreline, following a warm current into deeper waters, passing through underwater forests, and eventually arriving at a cooler Pacific coastline. Changes in lighting, spatial transitions, and physical descents through the space enhance the narrative, stimulating curiosity and fostering a connection with the ocean.

The lighting design recreates the sensation of traveling from sunlit shores to the mysterious deep sea by carefully modulating the intensity and quality of light. This approach evokes the vastness and wonder of the marine world, engaging visitors emotionally. The project has been recognized with several awards, including the Exhibit Award for Significant Achievement by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Builder’s Association Building Excellence Award, and the V Ibero-American Lighting Design Biennial Award by Iluminet.

What were your main objectives when designing the lighting for this project?

As with most of our projects, the primary goal was to reinforce the architectural and exhibit design concepts, allowing visitors to feel immersed in the ocean. Lighting played a vital role in shaping this experience. Achieving this required close coordination between finishes, architectural details, and lighting solutions, including collaboration with Luminii. Aligning our lighting strategies with the user experience, stakeholders’ interests, and budget constraints was essential for the project’s success.

What drew you to incorporate Optic Arts by Luminii products into your design?

Optic Arts by Luminii was an ideal partner, not only for their high-quality products but also for their excellent customer service. Their willingness to coordinate and adapt specific components made it possible to meet the unique requirements of this project.

What challenges did you face, and how did our products help you overcome them?

Having access to clear and practical product information from Luminii was instrumental in addressing design and technical challenges. Luminii’s tools, such as their voltage drop calculator for low-voltage applications, proved invaluable during the design process. Their outstanding customer service consistently exceeded expectations, ensuring seamless project execution.

Which aspects of the Optic Arts by Luminii products stood out to you during the design process?

The wide range of product options, including different applications, IP ratings, and color temperatures, stood out. Combined with Luminii’s exceptional customer service, these factors made it easy for us to find precisely what we needed to achieve our design goals.

Did you consider how your lighting choices would impact the sea life in the aquarium? If so, how?

Absolutely. Aquarium lighting must balance multiple needs, including animal care, operational requirements, and visitor experience.

• Animal care: We selected resilient products suitable for saline environments and incorporated smooth dimming curves to create sunrise and sunset scenes without disturbing the species.
• Aquarist operations: We ensured the lighting facilitated routine tasks, including feeding, cleaning, and tank maintenance.
• Visitor experience: The lighting design was essential to creating a captivating and immersive experience. Through careful control of light levels, color temperatures, and dynamic effects, we aimed to evoke emotional responses, enhance curiosity, and foster a deeper appreciation for marine life.

How did the performance of the OA products enhance the ambiance you aimed to create?

The high CRI offered by Optic Arts products allowed us to achieve excellent color rendition across the aquarium. With a wide selection of optics, vivid colors, precise color temperatures, and diverse mounting options, we had the flexibility to align the lighting design with our creative vision and technical requirements.

Did you customize any products to better fit the project’s needs?

Yes, one of the most complex elements was the “look-up tank” for the Bermuda chub fish. This is one of the few seawater tanks in the U.S. featuring lighting inside the tank. Luminii helped us create custom plastic mounting brackets since the standard metal ones would have rusted, potentially harming the fish. Their continuous support, from providing samples to hosting Zoom meetings for technical coordination, ensured the project ran smoothly. Luminii wasn’t just a manufacturer; they were a true partner in achieving our design goals.

How did you address energy efficiency and sustainability in your lighting selections?

This project aimed for LEED certification, so energy conservation was a priority. Optic Arts’ diverse product range, including various wattage options, allowed us to meet LEED requirements without compromising on design quality, lighting effects, or code compliance.

What feedback have you received from clients or end-users about the final lighting design?

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. The zoo staff, aquarists, and exhibit designers have expressed their satisfaction with how seamlessly the lighting complements both the architectural elements and the exhibits. They’ve praised the lighting for not only enhancing the visual appeal of the aquarium but also for its functionality—facilitating smooth daily operations and animal care routines.

Visitors frequently comment on how the lighting elevates their overall experience, making them feel immersed in the underwater environments. Many have shared that the gradual shifts in light—from the sunlit shallows to the darker ocean depths—help them feel like they’re embarking on a real journey beneath the sea. Families and educators appreciate how the lighting creates a balance between an engaging sensory experience and an informative one, fostering curiosity about marine life and ocean conservation.

Additionally, the client emphasized that the lighting exceeded their expectations by achieving both the artistic and operational goals of the project. They were particularly impressed with how the lighting design met LEED energy efficiency requirements without sacrificing the emotional impact of the exhibits. This balance between sustainability and aesthetics has been a key factor in the project’s success.

Did you encounter any logistical or technical challenges during the installation of OA products?

Not really. Thanks to thorough planning, potential issues were resolved during the design phase. Coordination between the zoo, the contractor, and Luminii ensured a smooth installation process. At Lightchitects Studio, we prioritize anticipating challenges to avoid costly on-site delays, always working in the best interest of our clients.

Looking back, is there anything you would have approached differently in your design?

This project’s success is the result of multiple design iterations and extensive coordination with the Kansas City Zoo, EHDD Architecture, Space Haus (exhibit design), and other partners. Each step of the process contributed to refining the final design, and we’re proud of the outcome. The collaborative effort was key to achieving such a high level of detail.

What advice would you give to emerging lighting designers tackling similar projects?

Knowledge is power! Aquarium projects are some of the most challenging environments for lighting designers due to their unique complexities. Unlike traditional spaces where light interacts with air, aquariums require designers to work with light passing through water, which behaves very differently. Water affects light in terms of refraction, absorption, and diffusion, all of which must be carefully considered to achieve the desired visual and functional effects.

To succeed in these types of projects, lighting designers need to develop a solid understanding of the science behind light. This includes knowing how different wavelengths of light interact with various materials and environments, as well as understanding concepts like glare control, color rendering, and beam angles. Precision is crucial when working with exhibits that are sensitive to both the animals’ well-being and the viewer’s experience.

In addition, emerging designers should focus on collaboration. Aquarium projects require close coordination with multiple stakeholders—architects, aquarists, exhibit designers, engineers, and manufacturers. Each discipline brings a unique perspective and set of requirements to the project. Being able to communicate your design intent while staying open to feedback is essential for balancing aesthetics, functionality, and technical constraints.

Prototyping and mock-ups are also invaluable. Testing lighting solutions in real conditions allows designers to refine their approach and identify potential issues early in the process. Small changes in light levels, color temperature, or placement can have a significant impact when working with live animals or reflective water surfaces.

Finally, embrace problem-solving and flexibility. No two aquarium projects are the same, and unexpected challenges will always arise. Whether it’s dealing with the effects of saline environments on lighting equipment or adjusting for unforeseen construction limitations, staying adaptable and solution-oriented is key.

Above all, keep learning. The more you understand how light behaves and how it can be manipulated, the better equipped you’ll be to tackle any project, no matter how complex.

What’s the first word that comes to mind when you think of Optic Arts?

Versatility

It takes a village as they say! Who else should we thank and acknowledge for this beautiful project?

• Architecture: EHDD
• Local Architect: El Dorado Inc
• Exhibit Design: Space Haus, LTD
• Aquatic Engineering: LSS Design | TJP Inc.
• MEP: Antella Consulting Engineers, Inc.
• Structural Engineer: Leigh + O’Kane
• Landscape Architect: Vireo
• Civil Engineer: SK Design Group, Inc.
• Acoustics: Charles M. Salter Assoc. Inc.)

Thank you for your time, Carlos, it was a pleasure speaking with you!

Interviewer: Dawn Andersen, Director of MKT for Luminii

Interviewee: Carlos Hano, Lightchitects Studio

Lighting Design by: Lightchitects Studio

Photography by: Michael Robinson / @mrobinsonphoto