Oceanographic Center

A large New England public college sought a flagship project to anchor a 40-acre neighborhood of research, office, retail, and residential spaces. The design-build team of SMMA and Shawmut proposed to deliver an Oceanographic Center building with high bay research space.

The new Oceanography building is designed to elevate cross-team research while furthering the college’s commitment to sustainability and resiliency. Its flexible, collaborative research spaces will give students and faculty access to experiential learning on real-world challenges.

The new building’s cutting-edge research environments will support advanced manufacturing and industry.

It will also serve as a collaborative hub for NGOs, private companies, and government partners.

The new Oceanographic Center is set to grow the talent pool in ocean mapping.

The design aims to maximize visibility by establishing visual connections and view corridors that interact with the wider neighborhood. Inside, learning is put on display using windows and interior borrowed light connections.

The design proposes a durable, high-efficiency, and low-carbon building that meets the university’s increasingly ambitious emissions goals while protecting nearby wetlands.