This award provides support for the construction of a laboratory, a housing unit and a conference center at the Anheuser Busch Coastal Research Center (ABCRC) of the University of Virginia in Oyster, VA. This field station, located close to the point at which the Chesapeake Bay joins the Atlantic Ocean at the southern tip of the Delmarva peninsula, provides researchers and students access to an area where they can investigate the ecological, chemical and geomorphological processes that regulate coastal systems and landscapes. Until recently, the station has had relatively little physical infrastructure. An expanding research user base and the need to develop educational facilities have motivated a facilities development plan of which this project is the first stage. Although a relatively new station, the ABCRC has a strong history of supporting research and training. The proposed improvements will foster a fundamental change in the use of the ABCRC site. Existing facilities are able to support only a short-term presence by researchers at the station. With the proposed laboratory, housing and commons facilities, researchers will be able to spend more time on site, leading to more productive use of field research time. Additionally, graduate and undergraduate courses can be offered at the station once space is available for class and laboratory activities. The planned construction consists of a laboratory (5,000 sq. ft.), accommodations (4,750 sq ft.) and an education and conference building (a 3,500 sq. ft.). The total cost of construction of the three buildings is approximately $1.5 million; the institution will provide the funds required in addition to those provided by the NSF.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Biological Infrastructure (DBI)
Type
Standard Grant (Standard)
Application #
0122334
Program Officer
Gerald Selzer
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2001-10-01
Budget End
2005-09-30
Support Year
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$308,533
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Virginia
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Charlottesville
State
VA
Country
United States
Zip Code
22904