Beach Feb 2018

plan was born.
The project
Two remarkable things happened
in the 34 months since the
inception of the Harrison Greenberg
Foundation Roundhouse
Aquarium Beautification Project.
First, it was fast tracked with almost
unprecedented alacrity. Six
different governmental bodies, including
the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers and the California
Coastal Commission, signed off on
the project in short order; one
coastal commissioner actually
cried as he voted for the project.
The other unusual aspect is that
Cambridge Seven Associates, one
of the most prominent aquarium
design firms in the world, signed
on to do the 2,000 ft. project.
It was unlikely that such a firm
would even be interested in so
small a project, but after they responded
to the Request for Proposals
and were selected as finalists,
Michael Greenberg had an uncanny
feeling as lead architect
Peter Sollogub presented Cambridge’s
ideas for the Roundhouse
Aquarium last January.
Sollogub is a lively, ebullient
man, short in stature but large in
The Manhattan Beach Pier in 1930, a little less than a decade after its construction.
Photo courtesy Jan Dennis
wonder and imagination. He looks
a bit like an American Pablo Picasso.
But what struck Greenberg
that day was both Sollogub’s passion
for this project and his resemblance
to someone else – his
grandfather, Harry, for whom Harrison
was named.
“The passion Peter showed, and
knowing Cambridge Seven were
the architects for the New England
Aquarium and are one of the most
world-renowned architects for
aquariums around the globe...Yet
he said this would be the most important
project he would work on
because of the nature of how it
came to be,” Greenberg recalled.
“And you know, there was a connection,
because I am from New
England, and as he is presenting,
he reminded me of my grandfather,
Harry… I’m thinking, ‘My
god, this is meant to be.’”
Michael spent the early part of
his childhood in Boston, and was
pulled into the family business as
a young boy. He has vivid memories
of getting up at 4 a.m. to go to
the produce markets with Harry,
an indefatigable man who made
these pre-dawn runs five days a
week and operated his greengrocer's
market seven days a week.
“He was a big part of my growing
up,” Greenberg said. “And I felt
this deep connection with Peter.
Sort of like being guided. It was an
easy decision for me.”
Sollogub said it’s the smallest
project he’s ever worked on, but
also the one that means the most
to him, personally.
“Some tanks on other projects
are bigger than the entire aquarium
in the Manhattan Beach project,”
said Sollogub. “Some of our
projects are a hundred times bigger,
and almost all are many, many
February 8, 2018 • Easy Reader / Beach magazine 27