From Traffic Jam to Living Reef
Twenty-two life-size cars made from precast concrete are helping transform the ocean floor off Miami Beach into an underwater art installation designed to support marine life. Part of the REEFLINE initiative, the sculptures combine public art with artificial reef infrastructure to create new habitats for coral, fish and other marine species. Produced by Alcrete using marine-grade concrete, the structures feature surfaces designed for coral attachment and are seeded with 2,200 corals. The project demonstrates how precast concrete can serve both artistic and environmental purposes in challenging marine conditions.
Fast Facts
- Project Name:
- REEFLINE Project Phase 1
- Location:
- Miami, Florida
- Precast Products Used:
- Custom marine-grade precast concrete artificial reef sculptures
- Precast Producer:
- Alcrete
- Completion Date:
- November 2025
The Challenge
The REEFLINE project sought to address multiple challenges along Miami Beach’s coastline: restoring marine habitats, supporting coral growth and creating an underwater public art installation that would engage the community.
The project required complex, life-size sculptures capable of withstanding saltwater exposure, strong currents and hurricane conditions while providing suitable surfaces for coral attachment and shelter for marine life. The structures also needed to be manufactured with precise dimensions and deployed offshore with minimal disturbance to the surrounding environment.
Precast Solution
Alcrete produced 22 life-size concrete vehicles for an underwater installation called “Concrete Coral.” Arranged to resemble a submerged traffic jam, the sculptures use marine-grade precast concrete to combine artistic detail with the structural requirements of an artificial reef.
The sculptures incorporate voids, overhangs and textured surfaces that increase available habitat for coral, fish and other marine organisms. Their concrete surfaces provide a substrate for coral attachment, while their structural mass and durability allow them to remain submerged in demanding ocean conditions.
Off-site fabrication enabled controlled production of the intricate shapes and streamlined installation using cranes and barges. The precast structures were deployed underwater within hours and positioned according to the project’s design.
- 22 Life-size precast concrete vehicles installed underwater
- 13 tons Approximate weight of each vehicle
- 2,200 Corals seeded on the structures
- $2 million Total project cost
- $500,000 Cost of precast concrete
Why Precast?
Precast concrete offered the combination of durability, design flexibility and controlled manufacturing needed for an underwater installation serving both artistic and ecological purposes.
Marine-grade concrete provides a durable substrate for coral attachment while withstanding exposure to saltwater, currents and wave action. Precast forms also allowed the project team to reproduce detailed vehicle shapes with integrated cavities and textured surfaces designed to support marine life.
Manufacturing the sculptures off-site provided greater control over dimensions, structural strength and surface characteristics. It also simplified offshore installation, allowing the large structures to be transported and submerged efficiently while reducing construction activity in the marine environment.
Results
Completed in November 2025, the first phase of REEFLINE placed 22 precast concrete sculptures offshore, creating an underwater art installation that also serves as artificial reef infrastructure.
The structures provide surfaces for coral attachment and spaces intended to shelter fish and other marine species. Seeded with 2,200 corals, the installation is designed to support marine habitat restoration and provide opportunities for scientific research and ecological monitoring.
Community participants responded positively to the installation, recognizing both its artistic significance and its environmental purpose.
The project establishes a foundation for continued coral restoration while demonstrating how precast concrete can connect public art, marine science and coastal infrastructure.
- Written by:
- Heather Bremer, NPCA Director of Communications
- Source:
- REEFLINE Project Phase 1, Built for Purpose Awards submission
- Published:
- October 22, 2026
- Last Update:
- October 21, 2026
