Courtesy / Bigelow Laboratory
Bigelow Laboratory, the East Boothbay research institute, will break ground Oct. 12 on its $30 million Center for Ocean Education and Innovation, shown here in a rendering.
Updated: September 21, 2023
Bigelow Laboratory in East Boothbay will break ground on $30M expansion
Courtesy / Bigelow Laboratory
Bigelow Laboratory, the East Boothbay research institute, will break ground Oct. 12 on its $30 million Center for Ocean Education and Innovation, shown here in a rendering.
Bigelow Laboratory, the East Boothbay research institute, will break ground Oct. 12 on its $30 million Center for Ocean Education and Innovation.
Bigelow said the 25,000-square-foot center promises to advance its education and "solutions-focused" work with teaching labs, research facilities and a 300-seat forum, which will also be a resource for the broader community.
The center will "enable new research and education initiatives for the benefit of Maine's residents, ecosystems and economy," Bigelow said.
The general contractor is Consigli Construction. The architect is Harriman. Work is expected to be completed in 2025.
A key piece of the financing of the center was an $8 million gift from the Harold Alfond Foundation, Maine's largest charitable foundation. The Portland-based foundation has $1.6 billion in assets and made contributions of $72.76 million in 2021, the most recent year available, according to a list to be published Sept. 25 in the Mainebiz Giving Guide.
Another $12 million was secured by Maine congressional leaders. More than $9 million was donated by individuals and institutions.
The groundbreaking will be held Thursday, Oct. 12, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. A reception will follow. (Parking is limited, so Bigelow asks that people register in advance, here.)
Speakers are expected to include U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine 2nd District and Gregory Powell, president and CEO of the Harold Alfond Foundation. U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, will provide a video message.
Photo / Courtesy of Bigelow Laboratory For Ocean Sciences, Reggie Huang
Deborah Bronk, president and CEO of Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
Bigelow Laboratory is led by Deborah Bronk, who is president, CEO and senior research scientist. Bronk, who joined Bigelow in 2018, earned her doctorate in marine-estuarine and environmental sciences from the University of Maryland and has two decades of experience as a professor and an oceanographer.
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is an independent, nonprofit research institute. Its scientists use innovative approaches to study the foundation of global ocean health and unlock its potential to improve the future for all life on the planet.
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