The College of William and Mary/Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Acuff Center for Aquaculture

Gloucester Point, Virginia

Size
22,000 gsf

Services
Feasibility Study
Programming
Lab Planning
Architecture

Roles
Ellenzweig
Design Architect and Laboratory Planner

Quinn Evans
Architect of Record

TAG Engineering
Seawater Systems Specialist

The Acuff Center for Aquaculture is a shellfish research hatchery that supports collaborative research, education, and advisory teams within the Shellfish Aquaculture Program at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). The building has an expansive, open floor plan allowing flexibility to meet the changing research and husbandry needs of many users, with capacity for shellfish spawning, larval culture and setting, as well as specialized algae and broodstock rooms, four labs, four offices, and a workshop. There is ample space to accommodate hundreds of distinct shellfish cultures in their early life stages, from spawning through settlement. State-of-the-art seawater filtration and climate-control systems maintain optimal conditions for ripening broodstock, culturing shellfish larvae, and growing microalgae for feeding animals throughout the facility

The Acuff Center serves as a resource not only for researchers and educators (including the Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Technology Center (ABC) and a variety of other VIMS investigators), but also for stakeholders and partnering organizations in the aquaculture industry. The collaborative efforts of these groups to advance and support a thriving, sustainable shellfish aquaculture community make up the VIMS Shellfish Aquaculture Science Initiative (SALT-SI). This initiative will help answer questions and solve problems in shellfish aquaculture through globally relevant science, outreach, and education.

Ellenzweig's Michael Nipoti hoists an oyster cage on its way to the Acuff Center's hatchery

The Acuff Center will be populated with scientists and millions of baby oysters. This beautiful new state-of-the-art facility will allow VIMS to help Virginia’s aquaculture industry solve problems and seize opportunities as well as position VIMS as a global leader in the field of shellfish aquaculture science.

Bill Walton, Ph.D., Professor of Marine Science and Coordinator of the Shellfish Aquaculture Program

Virginia Institute of Marine Science