A space for learning, innovation, and growth

The Gladys Valley Marine Studies building is designed to help develop a vibrant learning community for students, faculty, and partners to convene on ocean and coastal issues. This unique building is a space for students, professionals, and lifelong learners to grow in leadership, education, and workforce preparation by giving individuals the experience and training to navigate a wide spectrum of opportunities.

Rising From the Shore- Marine Studies Building on the Oregon Coast

Rising from the Shore- Marine Studies Building on the Oregon Coast

The Marine Studies Initiative (MSI) is founded on cross-disciplinary education and collaborations in the humanities and sciences to tackle complicated marine-related issues. The construction of an educational and communal building in a tsunami zone reflects just that – supporting experiential learning and access to the coast all while respecting the needs and concerns of the coastal community. Not only is this a building designed to promote proximity between students and researchers, academia and government agencies, but it enhances safety to the entire Hatfield community by providing vertical evacuation to an emergency assembly area on the roof. There are few buildings like it in North America. The execution of this building amounts to a combined feat of planning, engineering, and education. Watch as experts and community leaders, oceanographers and architects, walk you through overcoming these challenges and their vision for marine studies at the coast.

The location on Yaquina Bay provides unparalleled access to pristine and impacted habitats, Oregon State and agency scientists and managers, and coastal communities, all of which are faced with addressing critical issues connected to the sea. For more information about the building, visit HERE. 

Design Criteria

The new Marine Studies building will be built to meet all of the following criteria:

  • The buildings will be designed, engineered and constructed to survive a magnitude 9.0 earthquake.
  • The Marine Studies Building will be constructed to survive an associated tsunami resulting from a catastrophic natural event, such as a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake.
  • The Marine Studies Building will be repairable following an L-level tsunami.
  • The Marine Studies Building will serve as a safe and accessible vertical evacuation site in the event of an XXL tsunami.
  • The Hatfield campus will be served by a preferred horizontal evacuation site.
  • All work associated with building construction and operation would be carried out transparently and with full information to stakeholders.
  • The project will be built on time and on budget.

 

Expected start and completion dates

Ground Breaking: March 15, 2018

Projected Completion: Winter 2019

Completion: Summer 2020

Check-out the Marine Studies Building blog HERE.