At Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium’s new Sarasota, Florida facility, lighting does far more than illuminate space—it regulates biological rhythms and supports long-term animal health. For EXP’s design team, the project required balancing architectural design with the precise biological needs of a thriving marine ecosystem.

As EXP Lighting Director Kate Sanoke notes, "We don't want the animals to simply survive. We want them to thrive."

The primary challenge was penetrating aquatic habitats with light engineered specifically for marine welfare. Because seawater rapidly scatters PAR and attenuates light at depth, EXP specified Cielux’s high-output W500BD, W2KB, W2KX, and W500N LED fixtures.

Designed specifically for sensitive aquatic life, the fixtures utilize Cielux’s Dense Matrix technology to deliver 100% flicker-free, full-spectrum light. The fixtures leverage a broadband Tuna Blue spectrum (10,000–20,000K) featuring precise photosynthesis peaks at 425 nm and 455 nm for coral growth, along with 390–400 nm UVA to promote animal health and maximize pigment fluorescence.

To maintain deep penetration without creating harsh glare for guests at the acrylic displays, EXP paired narrow-beam optics (W2KB, W500N) for deep optical punch with wide-coverage units (W2KX, W500BD) for precise beam control. Furthermore, field-swappable reflectors give aquarists effortless flexibility to adapt optics as habitats evolve, ensuring the lighting system is engineered not just for Day 1, but for Day 1,001 and beyond.

At Cielux, we are proud to partner with visionary teams like EXP and Mote Marine Laboratory to help bring world-class animal care and ocean conservation into clear, vibrant view for generations of visitors.