AQUARIUM TANK FOR SOUTHERN DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD, DUNEDIN, NZ.

Year: 2012-2013

View Plan

M.J. Murphy Ltd was engaged by SDHB to design and detail their proposed new feature aquarium tank to go in their lovely new extensions to the hospital. We completed the structural design of the tank and the 3-sided acrylic window. The tank was built off-site in Napier, from steel and fibreglass by Classique Plastics Ltd. The acrylic window was also installed and sealed in Napier, then transported down to Dunedin, and lifted into its final position. Rockwork theming was installed by the University of Otago’s Marine staff, and the life support systems installed by Aquahort Ltd. www.aquahort.co.nz

A very neat tidy job, and a very happy client.

MALTA NATIONAL AQUARIUM – QAWRA, MALTA

Year 2010-2011

Website: www.aquarium.com.mt 

M.J. Murphy Ltd was engaged by another NZ aquarium developer company to act on their behalf to fly to Malta, liase with the Maltese client (large construction firm), inspect the site at Qawra Point then prepare detailed concept plans for a major public aquarium. This included all aquarium layouts, a large circular shark tank, 24 smaller fish tank displays, design of underwater acrylic tunnel and windows and preliminary design of main life support systems and flow diagrams. This work was carried out by Mike Murphy and accepted by the client.

Unfortunately our NZ client experienced severe cash flow problems and we were thus regrettably obliged to stop work on the project before final design commenced and employed debt collectors to recover our fees. Subsquently we have observed that this project has now been completed based on our design for a stated project cost of 16 million euros (a PPP arrangement with the Maltese Government).

Also see: http://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130225/local/16-million-aquarium-to-open-this-summer.459079

SMALL FISH TANKS FOR KELLY TARLTONS SEALIFE CENTRE – AUCKLAND, NZ

Year: 2010-2012

MAJOR AQUARIUM DESIGN – CHENNAI, INDIA

Year: 2008

Unfortunately after much time was spent on this project by all parties, the project experienced various in-house political problems, deemed too expensive, and cancelled.
India has proved to be a difficult country to get projects of this size off the ground, with many bureaucratic hoops to jump through.

LIVE LOBSTER TANKS - NAPIER, NZ

Year: 2007
Website: www.aquahort.com

An interesting project, designed and built for Moana Pacific Fisheries Ltd (a major fishing company in NZ). M.J. MURPHY LTD teamed up with live lobster and fisheries expert John Seccombe of AQUAHORT LTD, to design and build 9 specialised concrete tanks to house up to 8 tonnes of live lobster, with flexibility to accommodate live crabs and shellfish. A sophisticated state-of-the-art life support system was designed, incorporating Aquahort heat/chill pumps to cool the saltwater.  The lobster tanks are suspended over large underground biological filter tanks, which ensure that the water is maintained in a safe and pristine condition.  The  whole complex is housed in an insulated panel room to minimise energy losses.  Resistance to saltwater corrosion and water leakage was paramount. A high quality low shrinkage concrete was used, with Xypex admix to mend any cracks, and the tanks painted with a special Resene paint system.

NEW PENGUIN POOL FOR INTERNATIONAL ANTARCTIC CENTRE – CHRISTCHURCH, NZ

Year: 2006
Website: www.iceberg.co.nz

This fascinating project was designed and built in 2006.  M.J. MURPHY LTD was engaged by the popular Antarctic Centre to provide tank design and layout advice for their large new display tank to house a colony of Little Blue Penguins.  Also engaged to design and detail all acrylic viewing windows and their concrete support rebates.  There are a number of smaller windows, but the  spectacular main window is 6.0m x 3.0m x 120mm thick, and weighs 2.5 tonnes. The water level is approximately at half-height so viewers can see the landscaped shoreline above, where the penguins nest. This window has also been sloped back at 8 degrees to help avoid unwanted reflections. Since opening, the new attraction has been very successful, adding an extra 30,000 visitors per annum.

HILTON MALDIVES UNDERSEA RESTAURANT - THE MALDIVES

Year: 2005

Website: Official and Wikipedia
Video: Click here

The complete design and supervision of a revolutionary new undersea restaurant in the Republic of Maldives, Indian Ocean, for Crown Company and Hilton Maldives Resort and Spa. Incorporating our 5 metre wide acrylic arch profile, and a stairway at one end, the 175 tonne unit was built in Singapore, transported to site on a huge crane barge, and sunk under the sea, with over 85 tonnes of dry sand.

Its location is alongside a beautiful coral reef. Sand was used, so in the future it can be removed, and the Unit will float to the surface again, where it can be repainted and maintained.
The restaurant proudly survived the awful 2004 Boxing Day tsunami without damage, (the wave almost topped the stairway), and has opened for business in April 2005. Hilton Hotels have called the restaurant "Ithaa" which means 'pearl'.
The project has featured in the May 2005 issue of the IPENZ magazine (Institute of Professional Engineers of NZ), and in many other magazines around the world.

Click here to read more about this project

ADDITIONS & ALTERATIONS TO KELLY TARLTON'S UNDERWATER WORLD - AUCKLAND, NZ

Year: 2001
Website: www.kellytarltons.co.nz

Preparation of concept plans for proposed major alterations to the Antarctic Encounter area and the Interactive Exhibition area, in 2001, and full design of new entry building to the restaurant.

UNDERWATER GLASS WINDOW - 'HERCULES-XENA' TV SERIES

Year: 1999

Design and detailing of 1.3m x 2.1 m high x 57mm thick glass underwater window for film set for Pacific Renaissance Pictures Ltd - Auckland. Also designed the reinforced concrete surround structure for the window

BUBBLE WALL TANKS, SKY CITY CASINO - AUCKLAND, NZ

Year: 1998
Website: www.classique-plastics.com 

Design and supervision of construction of 6 acrylic bubble tanks (visual feature wall located in Casino gaming floor). Viewed from both sides. Includes 5 air jets per tank, high and low pressure. Timing of jets coordinated with various colorful lighting patterns, controlled by computer. Produces spectacular swirling bubble patterns. Acrylic tanks, compressor and ozone treatment supplied by Classique Plastics Ltd, Napier.

NEW CIRCULAR FISH TANK - PORTOBELLO, DUNEDIN, NZ

Year: 1998
Website:   www.marine.ac.nz

Design and construction of new 1.8m diam. x 2.4m high circular acrylic fish tank for the main foyer of the Marine Studies Centre, Portobello, Dunedin, - including stainless steel base, internal pipework and rockwork.    Fabricated and installed by Classique Plastics Ltd, Napier.

SAN SEBASTIAN AQUARIUM - SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN

Year: 1996-1997

Website: www.aquariumss.com

Specialist Aquarium Designer (1996-1997) for major extensions to existing aquarium, including new 2000m³ shark tank, 8 smaller fish tanks (4 - 42m³); life support and filtration systems design; 30m long T-2.8m acrylic tunnel; MJM's world-first new 360º underwater acrylic tunnel (10m long); numerous flat sheet underwater acrylic windows (up to 6m x 3m); new theatre, souvenir shop, classroom, touch pool, restaurant, 2 MicroWorld units, quarantine and laboratory areas, and future exhibition area. A truly spectacular aquarium.MJM work included concept plans, architectural layouts, part of structural engineering; full acrylic works and life support systems design; rockwork theming design, and site supervision during construction. Construction in 1997-1998. Cost approx. NZ$18M.MJM was a finalist (in the top 3 in NZ) in the 1999 IPENZ Engineering Excellence Awards, for our innovative work on the 360º acrylic tunnel for the San Sebastian Aquarium.

MAUI OCEAN CENTER - HAWAII, USA

Year: 1996-1998
Website: www.mauioceancenter.com

M.J. MURPHY LTD was engaged by aquarium owners Coral World International  to team up with their expert life support engineer Mike Sloane to design and detail all the filtration, pumping and pipework  for their huge new 2500m³ shark tank, and life support water distribution systems for over 50 other smaller fish tanks. A big job. The main shark tank's filtration system consisted of a sophisticated series of slow-flow gravity sand biological filters in huge concrete tanks, which are known to provide superior water treatment and clarity.  A very interesting project.  The Aquarium is a "must-see" if visiting Maui. Designed 1996, construction complete 1998.

NANJING UNDERWATER WORLD - CHINA

Year: constructed 1995-1996
Website with more info: www.china.org.cn

Specialist Aquarium Designer for 2000m³ closed system saltwater aquarium at the very popular Sun Yat-Sen Mausoleum Park in Nanjing, (constructed 1995-1996) - including crocodile pool, and 11 smaller fish tanks. Work included aquarium building layout design, design of 58m T-2.8m acrylic tunnel and numerous large acrylic windows, moving walkway, aquarium life-support systems, salt water-making facilities, and rockwork theming design. This Aquarium is now one of the three most popular education sites in China.

KELLY TARLTON'S UNDERWATER WORLD, FILTRATION ADVICE - AUCKLAND, NZ

Investigation of ways to modify and improve the existing water treatment systems and gravity filters, to enable a major extension (Antarctic Experience) to be built.

SEAL POOL REFURBISHMENTS - MANLY UNDERWATER WORLD, AUSTRALIA

Year: 1992

Design of new 3.6m diam. x 1.2m high acrylic fish tank for the main upper central foyer.  The management had decided to remove the existing seal pool on the top floor, plug up the hole down to the lower floor, remove the existing lower cylindrical tank and replace it with a much larger acrylic tank, independent of the top floor.  This involved some tricky concrete work, and because of its size, the new cylindrical tank had to be brought in in 4 curved pieces and chemically bonded in place.   The result ... a very attractive tank.

SENTOSA UNDERWATER WORLD - SINGAPORE

Year: 1989-1992
Website: www.underwaterworld.com.sg

This very popular aquarium on Sentosa Island is still the No. 1 tourist attraction in Singapore. M.J. MURPHY LTD was engaged as Principal Designer (Conceptual, Architectural, and Engineering), and Coordinator, including design of 2 -1000m³ huge display tanks, 8 smaller fish tanks, external turtle pool, acrylic works (80m long T-2.4m tunnel, various windows and  a spectacular 2.5m diameter x 6m high acrylic fish tank at centre of the main circular staircase).

MOOLOOLABA UNDERWATER WORLD - QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

Year: 1989

Website: www.underwaterworld.com.au

Initial concept plans for Architect to utilise (main tank approx. 2000m³), then complete design of 74m long T-2.4m acrylic tunnel and windows. Project cost approx. $ 8M.

MANLY UNDERWATER WORLD - SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

Year: 1987-1988
Website: www.oceanworld.com.au

This was a very complex, ambitious and challenging project, which involved a complete gutting and refurbishment of the old existing aquarium, building a huge double sheet pile wall x 6m high around the outside to keep out the sea (constant pumping), then building of a complete new circular 'donut' tank around the outside (see Gallery photo).  An amazing effort by a dedicated team of clients, consultants, and contractors, and completed in the astounding time of 16 months, including design.

M.J. MURPHY LTD was engaged as the Principal Designer (Conceptual, Architectural and Engineering), including design of the 60m long T-2.4m acrylic tunnel, and windows. Life support was done by the client's own expert team. Main circular shark tank was approx. 2500m³.  The upper floor housed a new seal pool and audience seating,  with a spectacular glue-laminated timber roof structure overhead which we designed.  Project cost approx. $14m.

For this project, M.J. MURPHY LTD won the SETMA (NZ) PRIME AWARD 1988 for Visual Excellence.

WESTHAVEN FLOATING MARINA - AUCKLAND, NZ

Year: 1984
Website: www.westhaven.co.nz

This (non-aquarium) project was revolutionary for its day, and a 'first' of its type in New Zealand.  M.J. MURPHY LTD was engaged to design and supervise construction of a 730 berth floating marina, for boats up to 14m in length.  This comprised of 8 main piers, up to 200m long, secured to over 400 timber piles driven into the seabed.  The piers were built from 1,110 concrete-and-polystyrene floating pontoons, joined together with treated timber beams and galvanised steel brackets.  We also had to design 8 double length specially tapered pontoons to take the eccentric loads from the access ramps from shore, as the tide rose and fell (3.5m maximum tidal range).  A truly challenging and memorable project.