An innovative seawall design, made of 3D-printed modular tiles, will soon be piloted at Miami's Morningside Park.
Morningside Park, a beloved neighborhood park in Miami with sweeping views of Biscayne Bay, will soon pilot an innovative approach to coastal resilience. BIOCAP tiles, a 3D-printed modular system designed to support marine life and reduce wave impact along urban seawalls, will be installed on the existing seawall there in spring 2025. BIOCAP stands for Biodiversity Improvement by Optimizing Coastal Adaptation and Performance. Developed by our team of architects and marine biologists at Florida International University, the uniquely textured prototype tiles are designed to test a new approach for helping cities such as Miami adapt to rising sea levels while simultaneously restoring ecological balance along their shorelines. The project receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the Environmental Protection Agency. Subscribe to the Daily newsletter. Fast Company's trending stories delivered to you every day Privacy Policy | Fast Company Newsletters Ecological costs of traditional seawalls Seawalls have long served as a primary defense against coastal erosion and storm surges. Typically constructed of concrete and ranging from 6 to 10 feet in height, they are built along shorelines to block waves from eroding the land and flooding nearby urban areas. However, they often come at an ecological cost. Seawalls disrupt natural shoreline dynamics and can wipe out the complex habitat zones that marine life relies on. Marine organisms are crucial in maintaining coastal water quality by filtering excess nutrients, pollutants, and suspended particles. A single adult oyster can filter 20–50 gallons of water daily, removing nitrogen, phosphorus, and solids that would otherwise fuel harmful algal blooms. These blooms deplete oxygen levels and damage marine ecosystems. Filter-feeding organisms also reduce turbidity, which is the cloudiness of water caused by suspended sediment and particles. Less water turbidity means more light can penetrate, which…