Site

Located along Hurricane Bayou on the Florida Intracoastal Waterway, the marine science facility occupies a sensitive coastal site within an active flood zone. Surrounded by wetland ecosystems containing both native and non-native species, the project establishes a new hub for environmental research, education, and community engagement.

Program Challenge

Design a resilient and self-sustaining marine science facility capable of supporting flexible teaching, research, and public programming while addressing the environmental realities of coastal flooding and hurricane exposure.

Solution

The STEM Center was designed as a resilient coastal research facility that embraces its surrounding environment as an extension of the educational experience. To address seasonal flooding and long-term storm resilience, the building was elevated above minimum flood requirements, providing both additional protection and expanded views across the adjacent wetlands. Integrated exterior shading devices balance daylight, visibility, and solar protection while reinforcing the building’s relationship to the landscape.

Reflecting the project’s STEM-focused mission, the interior design draws inspiration from industrial and research environments through the use of exposed systems, durable materials, and high-performance finishes that express the building’s role as a center for learning, experimentation, and collaboration. The program includes two large flexible teaching laboratories designed to accommodate lectures and hands-on instruction, a smaller research lab for independent and student-led projects, and associated prep and storage spaces. A 100-seat auditorium and public lobby support larger classes, guest lectures, and community events.

Beyond the building itself, the project extends into the surrounding wetland environment through demonstration gardens and hands-on ecological learning spaces where students engage directly in the cultivation of native species and removal of invasive plants. As the site’s sole building, the STEM Center establishes a distinct architectural identity that reflects the character of Florida’s coastal landscape while serving as the focal point for research and environmental stewardship.