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Celebrating a construction milestone of the new Center of Excellence for Operational Ocean and Great Lakes Mapping. L-R: N.H. Senator Jim Gray ’78; Rear Admiral Christiaan van Westendorp, director of NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey; Justin MacEachern, vice president of Gilbane Building; Senator Jeanne Shaheen; UNH President Elizabeth Chilton; Andy Armstrong, NOAA co-director of the Joint Hydrographic Center; Larry Mayer, director of the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping; and interim vice president for research and innovation Jennifer Miksis-Olds.

UNH and partners marked a construction milestone of the new Center of Excellence for Operational Ocean and Great Lakes Mapping with a traditional beam-signing ceremony on July 13. The centuries-old tradition of signing a significant structural beam creates a time capsule of sorts, recognizing and commemorating those whose effort and energy brought the project to fruition. 

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen.

Joining UNH President Elizabeth Chilton for the ceremony were , Rear Admiral Christiaan van Westendorp, director of , and leadership from construction partner . Jennifer Miksis-Olds, interim vice president for research and innovation, emceed the event adjacent to the West Edge parking lot, where the building is being constructed.

Funded in large part through federal awards from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Institute for Standards and Technology totaling over $25 million, plus institutional investment, the 70,500-square-foot building will house the Center of Excellence for Operational Ocean and Great Lakes Mapping, as well as the . This new construction will support cutting-edge research, applied training, and technical assistance in ocean mapping, while expanding opportunities for experiential learning.

“The �鶹app has long worked with NOAA to advance critical research — and I was proud to secure funding that will further that partnership with the creation of this new cutting-edge research facility,” said Senator Shaheen. “By creating a training ground for ocean mapping experts, the project will both contribute to scientific innovations with real applications at NOAA while also adding new jobs to our coastal economy."

Growing N.H.’s Economy

The building, located at the intersection of Main Street and Mast Road in Durham, will also include 35,000 square feet of high-bay space to accommodate the growing number of industry partners seeking to collaborate with UNH, advancing engagement with businesses in New Hampshire and beyond. With construction led by Gilbane Building and designed by Stantec, it is scheduled to open in fall 2027.

"This building is a clear example of where UNH and the state of New Hampshire have developed sustained leadership and distinction,” UNH President Elizabeth Chilton said. “We are grateful to our federal and industry partners who have helped make this work possible.”

Since 1999, NOAA and UNH have collaborated under a cooperative agreement that created the NOAA-UNH Joint Hydrographic Center and the parallel UNH .  As a result of this partnership, UNH is now a global leader in ocean floor and coastal mapping, which is essential for safe navigation, national security, protection against natural disasters, and more. Since its inception in 1999, the center has mapped more than a million square kilometers of ocean floor, discovered shipwrecks, helped the federal government respond to natural and manmade disasters, and pioneered the use of autonomous vehicles to map and collect data from the ocean floor.

“This Center of Excellence for Operational Ocean and Great Lakes Mapping represents the very best of what happens when federal agencies, industry leaders and premier academic institutions unite,” said Rear Admiral van Westendorp of NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey. “This milestone brings us one step closer to a modern hub of innovation that will transform how NOAA maps America’s waters and trains the hydrographic leaders of tomorrow.” 

The Edge Innovation District

The Center of Excellence is the first step toward realizing the broader vision for the Edge Innovation District. This developing project would integrate research, office, housing, education, and hospitality space into a vibrant mixed-use community. Conversations are ongoing about this long-term opportunity with the University System of New Hampshire Board of Trustees, a potential development partner, the Town of Durham, and industry collaborators.

“Today’s event celebrates a significant milestone and the many people and partnerships helping bring this project to life,” said Justin MacEachern, Vice President, Gilbane Building. “Gilbane is honored to support the growing ecosystem of academic and industry collaborators in the UNH community who are committed to exploration and preservation.”