Groundbreaking held for new Marine Research Center

NOVEMBER 15, 2016—A groundbreaking ceremony was recently held for new Marine Research Center at the Port of Gulfport in Mississippi.

Set to be completed in the first quarter of 2018, the 18,000 ft² Marine Research Center will serve as the marine operations and research facility for The University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Ocean Science and Technology, as well as enhance and beautify the industrial “front door” of the Port of Gulfport. The building will include administrative offices, classrooms, laboratories and storage areas.

The building’s design is being overseen by Eley Guild Hardy Architects of Biloxi is overseeing the design, and construction is set to begin in early 2017.

“The groundbreaking for USM’s new Marine Research Center at the Port of Gulfport is an exciting step toward the enhancement of the University’s impressive R&D portfolio,” says Mississippi Governor Phi Bryant. “The facility will play a significant role in growing Mississippi’s Blue Economy, which is a strong economic driver for the Gulf Coast region and the entire state.”

Jonathan Daniels, Mississippi State Port Authority Executive Director and CEO, says the research center “is a direct result of the state’s investment in the Blue Economy.”

The new Marine Research Center will be an extension of USM’s 135 ft research vessel R/V Point Sur, which is homeported at the Port of Gulfport.