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Facilities

Facilities

As North Carolina's coastal university, UNCW takes pride in its Center for Marine Science facilities, which support coastal and ocean research and education.

The original $17.5 million UNCW Center for Marine Science was completed in 2000 with a total of 75,000 square feet of net indoor space, including:

  • Teaching auditorium for up to 150 individuals
  • Classrooms and marine science labs
  • Running seawater system which provides raw unfiltered and purified seawater at flow rates up to 600 liters/min.
  • Greenhouse with running seawater
  • Aquarium room and outdoor tanks with running seawater
  • 900-foot pier with docking facilities

In the spring of 2008, the 24,000 square foot addition was completed. This one-story addition with a second floor mechanical loft added:

  • 37 individual offices
  • Five shops (Dive, Oceanographic Instrumentation with 7,000 gallon seawater test tank, Aquaculture and Boat Repair)
  • Four labs (Instrument Fabrication, Biotechnology (2) and the NC National Estuarine Research Reserve
  • A dive compressor room
  • Conference room with full voice and data capabilities

In the summer of 2010, the $4.3 million 11,000 square foot Shellfish Research Hatchery was completed, and in 2013, the 70,000 square foot Marine Biotechnology (MARBIONC) building opened.

2 scientists researching in lab

About Our Facilities

Center for Marine Science

  • 99,000 square feet of net indoor space
  • Teaching auditorium for up to 150 individuals
  • Classrooms and marine science labs
  • Running seawater system which provides raw unfiltered and purified seawater at flow rates up to 600 liters/minute
  • Greenhouse with running seawater
  • Aquarium room and outdoor tanks with running seawater
  • 900-foot pier with docking facilities
  • Five shops (Dive, Oceanographic Instrumentation with 7,000 gallon seawater test tank, Aquaculture and Boat Repair)
  • Four labs (Instrument Fabrication, Biotechnology(2) and NCNERR)
  • Dive compressor room
  • Conference room with full voice and data capabilities

Learn More about CMS

MARBIONC Building

  • 69,000-square foot interdisciplinary research facility with leaseable lab spaces
  • Research lab spaces for rent to entrepreneurs, start-up companies and established businesses that focus on biotechnology, analytical and environmental sciences and early-stage pharmaceutical research and development
  • Silver LEED certified facility
  • Ebb Tide Cafe offers breakfast, lunch and dinner with patio seating
  • Interactive coffee nook
  • Natural wooded environment
  • Affordable commercial labs available for lease

Shellfish Research Hatchery

  • 11,000-square-foot facility that provides researchers a laboratory to study oysters and other North Carolina shellfish species
  • Research projects include studies on water flow, types of algae and the impact of predators
  • Partnership between UNCW and the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Aquarium Division

Learn More About the Shellfish research hatchery

CMS Facilities

Vessels & Vehicles At the present time CMS has vessels ranging in size from 13 feet (small boats) to the 35-foot R/V Seahawk, all the way up to the 65-foot R/V Cape Fear, as well as vehicles that support the center's mission. Learn more
Core Facilities & Equipment Core facilities provide services to all UNCW coastal and marine researchers by providing general use facilities that may not normally be attainable by individual faculty. Learn more
Tours The Center for Marine Science (CMS) invites the general public to tour campus each fall at our Open House. CMS does offer tours for prospective students, these tours are conducted by a current graduate student who can share their student experience. Tour Registration
See Related Research Programs

Contact CMS

Center for Marine Science

Phone: (910) 962-2301
Fax: (910) 962-2410

5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane
Wilmington, NC 28409

Monday-Friday
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.