OSU Marine Studies

Part of the Hatfield Marine Science Center, the Marine Studies Initiative Building supports a collaborative, transdisciplinary marine studies program, serving as a vertical evacuation zone to protect against future tsunamis. Designed to harmonize with the surrounding dune landscape, coastal native plants and undulating landforms wrap around the building’s central plaza, seamlessly rising along the evacuation ramp. Rain gardens are strategically integrated into the landscape to capture and treat stormwater runoff, further enhancing the site’s sustainability and resilience while reflecting the natural beauty of the coastal environment.