University of Maine Sustainable Aquaculture Workforce and Innovation Center

Maine’s aquaculture industry is growing faster than its workforce. The University of Maine’s Sustainable Aquaculture & Workforce Innovation Center addresses that gap directly, providing hands-on training, applied research, and industry collaboration space designed around the realities of modern aquaculture practice.

The 14,200-square-foot facility replaces UMaine’s former Aquaculture Research Center and is organized around experiential learning: open tanks for developing and testing improved tank-based systems, an Environmental Change Lab studying how shifting coastal conditions affect aquatic ecosystems, and dedicated research space for aquaculture, animal health, and nutrition.

Delivering a facility of this complexity required close coordination across the full project team. Infrastructure systems, exact equipment locations, and researcher-furnished specifications were aligned well in advance of construction to ensure a seamless transition from design to turnover. The building is also designed to expand to 20,000 square feet as the program grows.