Marine Building

A WORLD-CLASS MARINE FACILITY FOR PLYMOUTH

Plymouth University’s New Marine Building positions the University as a global centre for research, innovation and enterprise in the marine and maritime sectors.

The £19m building houses unmatched wave tank testing facilities in the Coastal Ocean and Sediment Transport (COAST) laboratories, a Marine Navigation Centre complete with state-of-the art ship simulator and electronic chart technology, and a Marine Innovation Centre for international businesses.

Within its walls we will create waves more than one metre high, exchange knowledge for business innovation and growth, create renewable energy solutions and help the world adapt to climate change.

Download a copy of the Marine Building Brochure (.pdf)

A Royally impressive beginning

HRH Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh opens the marine building

The new Marine Building was officially opened by HRH Prince Philip The Duke of Edinburgh on 30 October 2012. As well as opening the new state-of-the-art building, His Royal Highness was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Marine Science from the University in recognition of his decorated career in the Royal Navy. Events were held across the Plymouth University campus in celebration of the occasion, and the highlights of the day were streamed live over the internet for all to see.

Snap shots of the momentous occasion can be found in the official opening image gallery, and the opening of the Marine Building was recorded and is available to view from the watch again page.

NEWS: Marine building officially opened by HRH Prince Philip The Duke of Edinburgh

PICTURES: image gallery

FILM: watch again

About the building

The five-storey building has been constructed to extremely high standards of sustainability, acheiving a

BREEAM Excellent rating. Built from around 500 tonnes of steel, 4.8 kilometres of cable and 300 cubic metres of recycled aggregate, it boasts special features that make use of solar gain, natural ventilation and rainwater harvesting to cut down on its energy consumption.

The stunning, sustainable, design of the building, beneath Plymouth's bright blue skies.

Image of the official handover ceremony - VC Wendy Purcell recieves the keys to the building.

It has attracted funding from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).

Plymouth to GAIN

This new building will ultimately house the headquarters of GAIN – the Peninsula Growth Acceleration and Investment Network – the strategic initiative behind its construction. Backed by £25m of national and regional funding, GAIN is a ‘growth hub’ that will bring together individuals and businesses in a ‘network of networks’, supporting and enabling investment, innovation and growth to super-charge the local economy.

Image of the eyecatching exterior of the building