Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute Breaks Ground

Groundbreaking crew includes, L to R: Blackburn Circle principal Jay McNiff, Gloucester Biotechnology Academy Education Director John Doyle,  Gloucester Biotechnology Academy Education Council Chair Joe Rosa, Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute Executive Director Chris Munkholm, and from PAYETTE, Architects George Marsh and Mike Lee.
Photography by Tricia O’Neill © 2015

We are pleased to announce the Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI) broke ground last week on their technical training school, Gloucester Biotechnology Academy. Though limited in square footage, this project aims to have a big community impact. GMGI is performing research focused on fisheries and marine science to foster the local economy. The teaching component, the Gloucester Biotechnology Academy is an opportunity for the student population of Cape Ann to learn about marine science and ultimately infuse the local economy with a trained biotech workforce. All this aims to establish Gloucester as a worldwide scientific hub. The Biotech Academy will serve recent Cape Ann high school graduates interested in pursuing a promising technical vocation and prepare them for professional, entry-level lab technician jobs in the biotechnology industry. An unassuming 3,000 SF space in a Gloucester office park will house an exciting state-of-the-art laboratory learning environment.

The design of this research lab for the Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute has a unique element of public engagement. This is represented in the gallery-like corridor that bisects the program – slipping between large teaching spaces and smaller, more intensive lab support rooms. Glass walls at each end of this gallery provide transparency into the large teaching spaces which reinforces the researchers’ connection between open lab and lab support while inviting visitors to observe the research as it is being conducted.

The lab support spaces are oriented in a bar that runs parallel to the main corridor and contains a Sit Down area, a DNA Prep Lab, Equipment Storage Room and Restrooms. Opposite the main corridor, the large teaching spaces include a Teaching Lab and a Conference Room – creating a wider bar of bright, tall volumes with exterior windows and generous floor to ceiling heights. Next to the Conference Room is an Office which is also adjacent to the entry and has a line of sight down the length of the main corridor. Storage closets line a secondary corridor which connects the main corridor to a secondary entry at the opposite end of the office.