Mike Sullivan writes:

The new Marine and Coastal Science Research and Instructional Center is coming to life.  Four of our scientists, Marc Frischer, Liz Mann, Aaron Peck and Jim Nelson, are starting to move in along with their research teams.

This project has been a long time coming. One of our supporters says it has been in the works for 13 years, but that pre-dates me by nine years.

Skidaway Institute MCSRIC

The $5 million, 11,000-square foot building houses eight offices for scientists, six labs and extensive additional workspace for research assistants, students, visitors and so on.

Research Assistant Karen Butler works in one of the labs.

The MCSRIC has been designed to be environmentally friendly and is expected to be certified under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.

The building’s orientation minimizes its east-west exposure which reduces the heat it will absorb from the sun. This orientation is one reason the MCSRIC is 31 per cent more energy efficient than a comparable building. Its courtyard, roof and sidewalks are organic or reflect the sun’s energy, further reducing the amount of heat the building will absorb.

The layout of the MCSRIC’s interior minimizes the building’s perimeter, reducing the energy and heat that can leak into or out of the building. The common work areas and the central hallway are open to the roof and have a row of upper windows running the length of the building. This allows natural night to flood the building on sunny days and saves on lighting energy.

Other “green” characteristics of the building include a solar hot water heating system, a 1,000 gallon cistern to capture rainwater for various uses, six-inch foam insulation and energy efficient windows.