More than fifty guests and building contractors attended a ‘topping out’ ceremony for the new $44.5 mln (Au$ 60.6 mln) Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre at the University of Western Australia’s (UWA) Crawley campus.
Once completed, the new building will bring together over 330 researchers working across a broad range of subjects, extending from oceanography to marine ecology, to fisheries, geochemistry, governance, marine technologies and engineering, according to UWA.
The Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre is a collaboration that brings together four of Australia’s research organisations working in and around the Indian ocean, including Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), CSIRO, Department of Fisheries WA, and UWA’s Oceans Institute.
The construction of the new facility has been enabled by a $25 mln (Au$ 34 mln) grant from the Australian Government and contributions from the four collaborating organisations.
Gaye McMath , UWA’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “Our excitement for this project is heightened today, as we celebrate the topping out ceremony, and we are grateful for the success of the project to date. The collaboration of partners will lead to expanded research opportunities, and will continue to build Australia’s international marine research status.”
Located on the western side of UWA’s Crawley campus, the six storey building will also house the Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems.
The Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre building has been under construction since March, 2014, and is anticipated to be completed in mid-2016.
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Image: UWA