Share thisPeople are being drawn in increasing numbers to our coastlines for access to sandy beaches, fish catches, and the alluring beauty of the sea. Similarly, marine scientists are drawn to the coastline for ready access to the sea and its extraordinary array of marine life and seawater—a necessary ingredient to the life-support systems of sea life.
Designing science laboratories that support healthy marine animals requires environmental alignment with dynamic seawater coastlines, presenting numerous issues for architects and engineers. Incorporating sustainable design that overcomes seawater corrosion and natural disasters is one the greatest challenges facing buildings that interface with the sea. Design teams must prepare for myriad scenarios, such as: the forces of salt water corrosion, seawater exposure from the exterior, or salt water spray attacking a science teaching and/or research laboratory facility used for marine biology and oceanography; seawater spills; active recirculating supply seawater piping; aquaria tank evaporation; and a facility’s direct exposure to seawater within. Large fresh air intake grilles, located low on a building exterior, are required for 100% outside air at HVAC rooms that must be located away from saltwater spray, fume hood chemical discharge, and vehicle exhaust. All building material finishes in the coastal environment need detailed study to insure that they will not break down from corrosion due to seawater exposure nor be damaged by hurricane forces.
Coastal flooding during storm events requires the use of ramps at Eckerd College Marine Laboratory rather than elevators.
Seawater tables are provided in teaching labs at Eckerd
College with accessible seawater piping system exposed
above.