MBRIC Roosevelt Roads
A combination of practical, sustainable and experiential strategies fused into a functional and iconic design solution. The site selected for the new Maritime, Business, Research and Innovation Center (MBRIC) takes researchers and visitors through a cross section of the ecologies that characterize this area of Roosevelt Roads, culminating at the former US Coast Guard Pier, with unique expansive views outward towards Ensenada Honda and the Straight of Vieques, and inland with views of the mountains, and the rainforest. This unique vantagepoint anchors MBRIC right at the water, with direct access to the bay and the open sea, to the coastal mangrove ecology, and marine life while also visually connecting it to the upland mountain ecologies that are essential to coastal life.
The proposed design is an oval-shaped structure with a center atrium inspired by ring-shaped coral reef
formations, islets named atolls. In shape as well as in intent, the proposed designs draw inspiration from the reference to atolls as natural restorative responses to nature events of volcanic activity and erosion.
Marvel’s approach begins with conceptualizing the new building’s capabilities to become an iconic landmark
for the environmental, educational, and entrepreneurial well-being of the region, blue economy affiliates, and the general public.
The basis of design focuses
on a sensible approach to restore the site’s
nature and ecology by balancing the facility’s
program, design requirements and proposed
uses with its surroundings.
The proposed landscape and building design seek to improve the locations natural state, its integrity, access and ecosystem, which in turn and in time will further advance the research and innovation as well as resilient and sustainable capabilities of the new
facility.
A design approach focused on measured restorative site improvements, along with a sustainable and resilient operationally fitted facility results in a balanced use of this unique location with all around advantages for its primarily intended purpose, its surrounding ecology, users, and nearby community.
- Typology
- Workspace, Higher Education, Sustainable , Resilient
- Design Team
- Jonathan Marvel, Héctor Ralat-Sotomayor, Wilfredo Rodriguez Joglar, José Juan Terrasa-Soler, Yadiel Rivera-Díaz, Mónica L. Cruz Declet, Aneela Jain, Ramon Irizarry, Héctor Montalvo, Shuhan Liu, Steven Soto, Adriana Guardiola
- Consultants
- Juan R. Requena & Asociados Ingenieros C.S.P. (Electrical, Fire Alarm, Low Voltage), Babilonia & Associates, PSC (Plom, HVAC, Fire Protection), SPEC Engineering Services (Structural Engineering), DG3A Design Group, PSC (Civil Engineering), AG ENVIRONMENTAL PSC (Environmental Engineering), S3 SOUSA (Surveyor), Silman (Structural Engineering)
- Awards
- AIA Puerto Rico Honor for Unbuilt Work
