Fully funded through the RESTORE Act, this new facility will serve the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering’s research efforts along the Gulf Coast. The City of Orange Beach and the University of South Alabama are both important partners in the project and its future research initiatives. The facility’s primary functions will be to facilitate analytical laboratory research, serve as a base camp for fieldwork, and provide presentation and meeting spaces for researchers and other project and community partners.
The 21,000-square-foot building is organized into two wings: a single-story wing for laboratory and research spaces, and a two-story wing for public-facing programs. The building is positioned on-site to maximize frontage and views of the cove and Gulf, while also utilizing existing open areas and minimizing impacts on existing trees.
To the greatest extent possible within the project’s budget, the building aims to serve as an example of resilient and sustainable construction for both the University and the Orange Beach community. The project is pursuing LEED Gold and FORTIFIED Gold certifications.
