Challenge
This project encompassed an extensive aquatic environment consisting of multiple pools, spas, and architectural water features integrated throughout one of Miami Beach's most ambitious private residences. Among them was a fully acrylic swimming pool cantilevered from the second floor of the home, representing a first-of-its-kind residential application.
Bringing that vision to life required overcoming several significant design and engineering challenges, including researching and developing custom piping penetrations through the acrylic that accommodated structural movement while maintaining a watertight seal, routing all plumbing through the structure of the residence to preserve the transparent appearance of the pool, and coordinating the acrylic pool with the project's structural, architectural, and MEP teams to ensure the surrounding building could properly support and integrate the suspended structure.
Solution
Delivering this feature required extensive research and development in close coordination with the architect, structural engineer, acrylic manufacturer, and project team. Existing structural steel within the residence was field verified using non-destructive scanning to determine where plumbing could safely penetrate the building structure without compromising the structural frame.
Custom stainless steel bulkheads and fittings were then designed and fabricated specifically for the project before being mock tested with acrylic samples to verify fit, watertightness, and the ability to accommodate structural movement. Detailed finite element analysis (FEA) was performed to determine the required acrylic panel thicknesses, while site measurements, field inspections, and ongoing coordination with the project team were incorporated into a comprehensive permit and construction drawing package.
Smart Aquatics also provided construction administration throughout fabrication and installation to verify the system was executed in accordance with the engineering design and project requirements.
