Ocean Science and Education

Introduction

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Located near Henley Gate at the entrance of UCSB, the Ocean Science Building is the physical manifestation of progressive conservation efforts that reflect the department’s mission and goals. Built in 2013, it is the product of a collaboration between UC Santa Barbara and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA for short. The building at heart is built to take advantage of its location overlooking the bluffs and harness the natural environment including the ocean breezes and stormwater runoff. A love letter to the ocean, the building has gorgeous views from it’s deck on the second floor while providing a space to educate K-12 students.

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Backstory and Context

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In the technical aspects of the building, the architecture does more than appeal to a modern aesthetic. Equipped with skylights and windows that open to the bluffs and cool water from the campus sea water distribution system to control the temperature of the server room, these measures are only a few used to make this building more energy efficient by utilizing the natural environment. In addition to this, the building implemented retention basins to collect stormwater runoff, native plants, and other plumbing techniques to use less water.

Intentionally green and designed to be multipurpose, the building is one of the newer additions to the UCSB campus.

Sources

, Kelsey Brugger. UCSB Unveils Ocean and Science Education Building, Santa Barbara Independent. August 7th 2013. Accessed April 29th 2021. https://www.independent.com/2013/08/07/ucsb-unveils-ocean-and-science-education-building/.

UCSB Ocean Science Education Building, USGBC. Accessed April 29th 2021. https://www.usgbc.org/projects/ucsb-ocean-science-education-building.