Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, New Research Facility

This new ground-up 32,000 SF two-story research and laboratory building was constructed adjacent to MBARI’s existing research buildings.

Designed to tackle the unique challenges of a coastal environment, the project team specially engineered a reverse forming system to stabilize the sand during foundation work. Its robust foundation was further enhanced with reinforced slab-on-grade to support the substantial 10-ton overhead traveling crane, essential for maneuvering the massive 20,000-pound wall-forming panels used in the board-form concrete walls.

Inside, the building boasts a high bay, a sub-assembly area, and a suite of specialized laboratories, including instrumentation, engineering, and science labs, each tailored to facilitate groundbreaking research. The facility also includes a multimedia room, a freezer farm room for crucial sample storage, and a computer room, all complemented by essential support spaces to ensure seamless operations in this state-of-the-art research environment.