NEW BEDFORD – The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth will open a 64,000-square-foot marine science facility on Sept. 29, the university announced Monday.
The building, a $55 million project, known as the School for Marine Science & Technology East, will augment the SMST facility built in 1997. The building was a collaboration between UMass Dartmouth and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.
Combined, the SMAST and the new SMASTE will house 150 marine scientists and support staff, including the Division of Marine Fisheries office and staff currently located at an offsite location in Fairhaven. The building is designed to accommodate program growth as well.
The university said that the expansion will triple the square footage of UMass Dartmouth’s marine science presence in New Bedford. The Division of Fisheries will occupy approximately 8,000 square feet of the building, with administrative and policy space as well as a permitting office.
The SMAST conducts research and poilicy development related to fisheries, coastal preservation, ocean modelling, climate change and related fields.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the expansion will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday at 836 South Rodney French Blvd., New Bedford.
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor.
