The recently opened Whitney Marine Research Center was featured in an article by Lab Design News, a publication that delivers news and trends in sustainable lab design. The article explores the building and its collaborative framework, flexibility through modularity, design for a coastal community, and some early impacts and lessons learned.
The Next Wave of Research at the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience
MaryBeth DiDonna, Lab Design News
The University of Florida’s newly opened Whitney Marine Research Center marks a significant expansion of marine science infrastructure, doubling research capacity while redefining how interdisciplinary collaboration and specialized research environments can coexist within a single facility. Located at the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience in St. Augustine, the $41.2 million, 38,000-sf building represents both a physical and strategic evolution for the institution’s research, education, and conservation mission.
Designed by Lord Aeck Sargent in collaboration with TTV Architects and constructed by DPR Construction, the LEED Gold-certified facility brings together 12 state-of-the-art laboratories, aquaculture systems, microscopy suites, a maker space, and an expanded Sea Turtle Hospital. The project not only increases research space but also introduces new planning approaches that balance flexibility, resilience, and community engagement.
Full Article: https://www.labdesignnews.com/content/the-next-wave-of-research-at-the-whitney-laboratory-for-marine-bioscience
Images: Courtesy of Lord Aeck Sargent Planning & Design and Copyright Jonathan Hillyer Photography