ALSI, LLC

07/25/2024

Although we’ve long since transitioned from being animal keepers, our passion for animal welfare never changed.

Now, we contribute behind the scenes, designing and constructing life support systems to ensure the well-being of BOTH the animals’ water quality but also the keepers’ sanity (drains that slope properly 👏🏻 valves within reach 👏🏻 automation 👏🏻).

Our roles have changed, but our mission is unchanged: supporting conservation initiatives and protecting wildlife.

Here we are in San Diego, installing the life support systems for the Safari Park’s new Elephant Valley project — it’s the biggest expansion in park history!

Proud to do what we do 💪🏻🚧🐘

07/12/2024

At ALSI, we aren’t just an installation company. In fact, our careers didn’t begin in LSS at all.

We began in animal care.

Feeding the sand tiger sharks, developing enrichment programs for the octopuses, and yes, even scrubbing algae 🥲

As we grew and evolved as a construction company, our foundation of animal welfare and the integrity of end-user functionality never faltered.

We’ve been aquarists as construction happened to us. Now we get to be the bridge between the construction and the client, allowing construction to happen with you.

The future is bright ✨

07/09/2024

Major progress happening out here in Sarasota, as the Mote SEA project continues to go up!

ALSI is overseeing the installation of all major life support systems on this impressive building. Features of the LSS include sophisticated plumbing networks, habitat-specific water quality monitoring, redundant systems for continuous operation in the case of a primary system failure, automated monitoring, and environmental controls for a fully custom and tailored design specific to Mote SEA. Pretty cool, huh?

🐠 The new Mote Science Education Aquarium, with a budget of $132 million, is set to open in early 2025.

🐠 The aquarium will cover 110,000 square feet and feature over 1 million gallons of water in its exhibits.

🐠 The ‘Gulf of Mexico Exhibit’ will be a massive, three-story, 400,000-gallon tank that will house a diverse array of marine life.

🐠 The project includes STEM Teaching Labs: Three labs dedicated to ocean technology, marine ecology, and biomedical/immunology, designed to provide hands-on learning experiences for K-12 students.

🐠 The exterior design is going to have a sleek, ship-like appearance, incorporating over 4,000 metal panels.

As we continue our work on this project, we can’t help but get excited for everyone to enter the doors at Mote SEA in 2025!

https://moteoceansforall.com

06/27/2024

What sets ALSI apart?

It's a question we answer on every construction proposal we submit.

Unfortunately, it's hard to convey exactly how our team is different. It manifests in small moments:

- a team member teaching the new guy with patience and understanding
- communicating needs to one another
- asking for help, offering help, and staying collaborative
- being approachable, on time, and consistent
- staying a "team" outside of the work environment
- keeping it positive, or letting management take over if you need a moment

We hire for skill, sure, but nearly (if not more) important is attitude and self-awareness. How we work together as a group influences the construction process and, ultimately, the final product. Each team member needs to be flexible, open, and trusting enough to work with any other, at any given time.

On a form, the words "communication," "collaboration," and "the ability to work together" just don't feel like enough sometimes.

Grateful for our team today, and every day.

06/25/2024

Installing aquatic life support systems on a major build is a long collaboration with other trades as the project progresses.

We need to communicate with nearly every one, electricians, HVAC, plumbing, concrete, drywall, etc etc etc, as pipes run throughout the walls, beneath the ground, and overhead.

That conversation also includes the importance of timing, to ensure plumbing is correctly and functionally located.

Here is a great example of our teamwork at Mote Science and Education Aquarium (SEA) with exhibit fabrication company, Dixon Studios LLC.

Initially, we install excess piping and place a cap on the end for pressure testing. Once pressure tests check out, Dixon Studios will place the frames for their rock work. This helps us locate where inlets will be.

So now we can cut the caps off and install the proper coupling with the frp in the location that matches the face of the rockwork, just like the ones in the front of the picture.

If not for this process, inlets could get buried, pressure tests could fail after the build and damage the entire habitat, water flow could be all wrong and cause debris build up. Lots of ways to fail.

That is why collaboration is key!

06/19/2024

Check out the size of this plate heat exchanger from Delta Hydronics! 😍

It might just be the largest we’ve ever installed.

Going in at the new Mote SEA (Science Education Aquarium).

Maverick for size reference (thanks Mav!)

Ladies, he is single 😏

06/14/2024

Have you seen the new Sobela Aquarium yet?

ALSI owner Nick Block was the lead project manager, overseeing all employees for the Life Support Systems installation on this monumental build for the Kansas City Zoo.

🐠 It features 650,000 gallons of water distributed across six zones and 34 habitats, housing nearly 8,000 animals representing more than 200 species.

🐠 The total cost of the project was $77 million, funded by both the Zoological District and private donations.

🐠 The facility was designed by the architectural firms El Dorado and EHDD, and constructed by JE Dunn Construction.

🐠 The aquarium features over FIVE MILES of piping in its advanced water filtration system.

06/14/2024

06/12/2024

Our team was back at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium for the Regional Aquatic Workshop last month. The installation that Nick managed there still looks fantastic, even almost a decade later.

We were happy to see how many people were interested in the back-of-house tours, which showcase the life support systems that public visitors rarely get to see. The scale of construction is impressive compared to most private aquariums and it’s always fun to learn from each facility how they make it all work.

This project was all about efficiency and animal welfare, and it really shows in the engineering design that prioritizes conserving energy, end-user readiness, and top-tier water quality for all of the inhabitants.

05/09/2024

04/03/2024

We are on site working to bring this incredible project to life. A little behind the scenes sneak peek coming later this week 👀🐠🐟

Dive into the excitement as Mote makes waves 🌊 at Nathan Benderson Park ⛲️!

Your chance to get a sneak peek 👀 of the new Mote Science Education Aquarium (SEA) before it opens is NOW! Don’t miss out!

Mote SEA is swiftly taking shape and is on its way to becoming a part of the University Town Center (UTC) community 🤩.

Curious about Mote SEA's progress? Join us for the SEAsonal Tasting event on April 17th! Hosted at the Nathan Benderson Finishing Tower, this exclusive affair offers guests a panoramic view of Mote SEA's development 🏗️, delicious tastings from esteemed UTC restaurants🍴, and an opportunity to meet the experts behind Mote SEA 🧑🏼‍🏭!

Event Details:
What: A variety of small tastings and complimentary wine and beer
Where: Nathan Benderson's Finishing Tower
When: April 17, 6pm
Why: All proceeds support Mote SEA
Who: Participating restaurants include The Breakfast Company, The Capital Grille (Sarasota), Georgie's UTC Restaurant & Bar, Louis Pappas Fresh Greek, Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern, Mademoiselle Paris, Five-O Donut Co UTC, Seasons 52, Tandoor Fine Indian Cuisine, Rocco's Tacos and Tequila Bar - Sarasota, Jpan Sushi & Grill, PopStroke, Kona Grill UTC, and Oak and Stone
How: Secure your tickets online at mote.org/seasonal

Don't miss out on this unforgettable experience! We can't wait to SEA you there! 🌊🐠

Nathan Benderson Park University Town Center Sarasota

03/13/2024

Really proud to have contributed our talents to this project. We can’t wait to see what the future holds at Seattle Aquarium.

03/07/2024

Our team had a blast at the AALSO Workshops in Pittsburgh. Returning to the construction of Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium with a new excitement for the future LSS operators of this facility. Thanks to the entire team at AALSO for the hard work and dedication to making this conference one of our favorites to attend. See you all next year in Portland!

01/28/2024

Aquarium Science Program applications are open now through March 15! oregoncoast.edu/aquarium-science-program

01/10/2024

We are officially on-site at the construction of the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium! 🌊🚧

12/06/2023

It appears we will be seeing this project soon! We can't wait to get this incredible aquarium over the finish line 😁

The Mote Science Education Aquarium at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota County is expected to open in 2024. It will be 110,000 square feet and require a million gallons of seawater.

11/30/2023

This project is going to be a gem along the Seattle waterfront 🐟🐠🍣🎣 we are all getting closer to the finish line!

Pictured here is the quarantine facility for keeping fish safe and healthy before transfer to their new habitats.

We collaborated with Aquatic Exhibits International to perform the installation and commissioning on this fantastic project 🔧🧰

The Seattle Aquarium's new Ocean Pavilion is a state-of-the-art exhibit space that spans an impressive 50,000 square feet, dedicated to showcasing the captivating beauty of the tropical Pacific. IAS supplied SITA High-Output Polyethylene (HOPE) UV sterilizers for this project, specifically designed for corrosive warm saltwater!

Learn More: https://ow.ly/urTV50Q7C2J

11/02/2023

“How many arms do sea stars have?

If you guessed 5, sorry — you're wrong

It turns out a sea star (aka a starfish) is just a squished, five-pointed head that evolved to lose it trunk, according to a study attempting to solve the long-standing mystery about the animal's bizarre anatomy

As one scientist put it, a sea star is like a ‘disembodied head walking about the sea floor on its lips.”

New research in the journal Nature unlocks a mystery on why sea stars have their star shape. But another mystery remains.

10/26/2023

Pretty cool! 🐋🎨

10/23/2023

Can’t wait to see everyone at AALSO in 2024!

Operator Registration for the 2024 AALSO Symposium & Workshops will open October 25th, 2023 at 10:00AM EST. You must be an AALSO member in good standing to attend the event. You can sign up to be a member at aalso.org !

2024 Pricing:
*Academic Partner Student: $395 each
*Early Operator: $445 each
*Operator Day Pass: $175 each
*Late Registration (after 2/7/24): $550 each

10/18/2023

Continuing to add past projects to our website.

We didn’t realize how many pictures of Kansas City Zoo’s new Sobela Aquarium we *didn’t* take!

Thanks to some great working relationships we were able to ask around and were flooded with photos.

Proud of this one. Happy to see it open to inspire folks in the community for years to come.

10/16/2023

At ALSI, we're passionate people.

Our team has more than a decade of expertise in specialty construction and consulting for public aquariums and aquatic habitats. More than that, we’ve volunteered with wildlife rehabilitation both in the US and abroad, restored habitat with non-profits by removing invasive plant species, and co-written (and won) grants to help make zoos and aquariums greener. We're the team you can trust to bring you in, help you through the process, and execute installations that are sustainable, beautiful, and value-engineered to save you money.

ALSI has consistently contributed to, consulted for, and/or personally installed award-winning exhibits, solidifying our commitment to delivering top-notch life support systems that consistently hit the highest targets for water quality and user experience, time after time.

Whether you're planning a new exhibit, upgrading your filtration system, or seeking expert advice, ALSI has you covered.

🐟🦭🦺🏗️

10/06/2023

Leaky octopus exhibit? No problem 🐙

This is a small local job, and in these cases contractors bid high and hope to make extra cash for their time. BUT this is a non-profit that uses donations from the local community to operate.

So we came in with a comprehensive plan to help.

In this client’s case, we offered:

- A complete bid with a fundraising goal for their campaign.
- Renderings to excite the public with images of the future octopus exhibit so they can achieve their goal.
- Assistance with grant applications!
- We will reuse and repurpose equipment and materials they already have.
- We also are flexible on timing, willing to wait for their fundraising to be complete. This can take time… but we’ll be here if/when they need us.

Every project is different but we put everything into each one so that our clients get the best service possible.

We love our community aquariums!
- Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
- Seattle Aquarium
- SEA Discovery Center

We’ve seen them all! 👷🏻‍♂️🐙

09/29/2023

We are in the thick of taking on new clients. If you:

- Are planning an exhibit build
- Want an estimate
- Need a consultant
- Seeking a new installer
- Commissioning

Find us at: www.aquaticlsi.com

Email: [email protected]

Aquarium Construction Services

09/22/2023

We’re just here to make life easier.

09/17/2023

Working on food prep and finding that last herring in the back of the freezer:

09/15/2023

Fish when they jump out of exhibit:

08/30/2023

We were happy to work alongside longtime industry partners, AEI, to keep this monumental project on track. Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium opens September 1st!

08/23/2023

With immense pride, ALSI is excited to share that we are opening the doors for direct-to-client operations.

After a successful decade of providing contract services and consulting in the field, we are thrilled to step forward independently, ready to directly contribute our expertise and craftsmanship to your projects.

Most of you know our founder and owner, Nick Block. If you’ve been a part of any aquarium build in the last 10+ years, you’d quickly recognize his reliability, consistency, and remarkable attention to detail.

We are fully equipped to collaborate with you, bringing our passion for aquatic exhibits and aquarium construction to every endeavor.

We can not wait to get started! We are taking new clients!

www.aquaticlsi.com

🌊

(Below: Nick Block in 2011 at SEA LIFE Aquarium >>> and 2023 at San Diego Safari Park)