• Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building, Oregon State University - Photography: © Josh Partee
  • Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building, Oregon State University - Photography: © Josh Partee
  • Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building, Oregon State University - Photography: © Josh Partee
  • Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building, Oregon State University - Photography: © Josh Partee
  • Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building, Oregon State University - Photography: © Josh Partee
  • Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building, Oregon State University - Photography: © Josh Partee
  • Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building, Oregon State University - Photography: © Josh Partee
  • Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building, Oregon State University - Photography: © Josh Partee
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Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building


Newport, Oregon, USA


The Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building at Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center is a dual-purpose facility. At this ocean research institution, innovative design cultivates inspired learning.

 

The 72,000-square-foot space houses multiple laboratories, collaborative research areas and a 250-seat auditorium, allowing students to explore the impacts of wave energy, fishing and marine habitats. The site also provides essential shelter for the Newport community, as the first tsunami vertical evacuation building in Oregon.


Products Used:
 1600 Wall System®1 Curtain Wall
1600 Wall System®2 Curtain Wall
Trifab® VersaGlaze® 450 Framing System 1-3/4" sightline
350 Heavy Wall™ Entrances
350 Standard Entrances


Rising Above the Elements

OSU was determined to preserve the Hatfield campus as a place of innovation, research and education, giving the Marine Science Center direct access to the ocean. Situated next to Yaquina Bay, winds and wind-driven rain are very strong in this exposed location, making durability an extra concern. Architects proposed a facility that would withstand these climate challenges.

 

Meticulous research and engineering helped to create a building that can stand firm against the magnitude of a 9.0 earthquake and correlated tsunami. A key design feature is the ramp leading from ground level to a congregation point on the roof of the three-story structure. The roof height was determined by computer tsunami modeling to serve as a vertical evacuation site for more than 900 people. Kawneer contributed to the building’s resilience with the 1600 Wall System®1 and Wall System®2 Curtain Wall, which are seismically tested to AAMA 501.4 and AAMA 501.6 standards. Our 350 Heavy Wall™ Entrances help provide durability against the elements and heavy foot traffic.

 

Bringing Art and Science Together

A major goal for this project was to foster an environment of cross-disciplinary cooperation and innovation. The Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building supports a new type of teaching and research model through a curriculum that blends natural and social science. The building boasts a range of amenities, including a digital media studio, murals and sculpture by regional artists and a café. The windows in the building’s bright, open areas overlook the encompassing sand bar and nearby Yaquina Bay Bridge, cultivating creative thinking with inspiring views of nature.

 

CHALLENGES

  • The building is located along the Cascadia Subduction Zone fault line making seismically-tested products essential for the project.
  • OSU sought to create an innovative, non-traditional learning environment that prioritizes inspiration and sustainability.

 

SOLUTIONS

  • Kawneer’s 1600 Wall System®1 and System®2 Curtain Walls have been tested to the highest seismic standard AAMA 501.4 and AAMA 501.6.
  • Kawneer’s 1600 Curtain Wall Systems® and Trifab® VersaGlaze® 450 Framing System offer abundant views of the inspiring surroundings and welcome natural light to reduce the building’s electricity usage.

 

ARCHITECT:
YGH Architecture, Portland, Oregon

DEVELOPER:
Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon

GENERAL CONTRACTOR:
Andersen Construction, Portland, Oregon

GLAZING CONTRACTOR:
Dallas Glass, Salem, Oregon

Photography: © Josh Partee


Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building at Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center [1073 KB]

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