UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA Marine Sciences Building
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA
ZGF PLANNED AND DESIGNED THE FOUR-STORY, 62,006 SF MARINE SCIENCES BUILDING (MSB), WHICH SHARES THE SITE WITH THE DONALD BREN SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT, ALSO DESIGNED BY ZGF, ON THE LAST OPEN SITE FACING THE OCEAN ON THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA CAMPUS.
The LEED Certified® building accommodates a unique combination of research and education programs, including: the Marine Science Institute, with its major research centers in ocean and coastal conservation, biotechnology, and marine policy; and the Natural Reserve System, which manages field sites for research and education on California’s diverse natural resources. The MSB includes teaching and research laboratories— specialized seawater work rooms with running sea 168
water, as well as temperature / humidity controlled environment rooms—faculty and departmental offices, conference facilities, an auditorium, and support areas to accommodate highly interdisciplinary research projects involving faculty from the departments of biology, geology, ecology, geography, chemistry, materials engineering, oceanography, environmental science, and public policy. The open-air courtyard in the center of the wedge-shaped building provides a convenient gathering space, while open walkways and bridges between the floors increase visibility of the faculty and students, and encourage chance meetings and informal interaction.