By ARABELLA SERRATA
Staff Writer
At the Feb.19-20 meeting, the University of Texas System Board of Regents approved a Port Isabel Marine Ecosystems Research Facility for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley [UTRGV] to be constructed.
According to the meeting agenda, the proposed project will have seven research labs. This will provide graduate students with a workspace, conference and administrative support area. The building will be one story large and designed to sustain harsh environmental conditions, including windstorms and flood surges.
Currently, undergraduates in the marine science program operate out of five portable research buildings that are reaching life expectancy due to “coastal location with longtime exposure to marine conditions.” These buildings will be removed after the new facility has completed construction.
The project’s total cost is estimated to be $21,500,000 and will have a gross square footage of 14,500. The project has completed all planning milestones and is set to begin construction in May 2025 and finish in
December 2026. The enclosure for the building and building systems has a life expectancy of 25 years, and the interior construction is estimated to last 10-20 years. The Board Of Regents plans on using the facility to
increase the program’s enrollment for graduate students from 25 to 50, and undergraduate students from 10 to 20 by 2028.
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