How Innovative Concrete Design Is Supporting Marine Biodiversity in Miami Beach
Miami Beach is best known for its iconic coastline, vibrant culture and busy streets. But just 800ft offshore, a very different kind of traffic is taking shape, where innovative use of concrete is helping to regenerate marine ecosystems while strengthening coastal resilience.
In October, 22 life sized concrete cars were lowered and submerged 20 feet below the ocean’s surface for the first phase of ReefLine: Concrete Coral, a pioneering underwater sculpture park and hybrid reef system. Far from being purely artistic the installations, constructed from marine grade concrete, are engineered to act as permanent habitats for coral and marine life.
Concrete designed for the ocean
Unlike conventional coastal structures, which can disrupt natural marine systems, the ReefLine sculptures are intentionally designed to work with ocean processes. Complex geometries create voids, overhangs and textured surfaces, increasing surface area and providing shelter for marine organisms. The concrete acts as a hard substrate, a critical requirement for coral attachment, enabling natural reef systems to develop over time.
In the next phase of the project, around 2,200 corals cultivated by ReefLine’s Miami Native Coral Lab will be seeded onto the concrete structures. Over time, these corals are expected to grow and spread, transforming the sculptures into living reef systems. As marine life colonises the installations, the concrete becomes the foundation for a self sustaining ecosystem rather than a static intervention.
Durability with purpose
Concrete’s inherent durability makes it uniquely suited to this role. Unlike temporary or biodegradable structures, marine-grade concrete provides long-term stability, allowing ecosystems the time they need to establish and thrive. This permanence is particularly important in coastal regions where reefs play a crucial role in reducing wave energy, limiting erosion and protecting shorelines from storm surge.
By using concrete as a form of natural infrastructure, ReefLine demonstrates how engineered structures can deliver both environmental and civic value — supporting biodiversity while contributing to coastal resilience in a city increasingly vulnerable to climate change.
Rethinking concrete’s role in sustainability
While underwater sculpture parks may appear unconventional, ReefLine raises an important question for the construction sector: can concrete infrastructure be designed to actively support natural systems?
This project suggests that, when thoughtfully designed, concrete can do more than simply endure harsh conditions. It can provide structure, shelter and longevity — qualities that are essential not only in buildings, but in ecosystems as well.
As pressure on the world’s coral reefs continues to intensify, ReefLine offers a compelling example of how innovative concrete design can respond to environmental challenges, turning a material traditionally associated with impact into one capable of enabling regeneration.
Much like the best architecture on land, ReefLine shows that concrete, when designed with care, context and longevity in mind, only improves with time.
Image credit, Reefline Nola Schoder