McCarthy Building Companies has achieved a construction milestone with the topping out of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute’s (MBARI) new research facility in California, US.

The milestone was marked with the placing of the final beam on the 30,000ft² research facility, dubbed Building G.

Upon opening, the MBARI aims to use the new facility for integrating and testing oceanographic equipment before deployment on research vessels.

The multiuse building will accommodate 35 people relocating from other locations.

Building G is expected to enhance the MBARI's advanced engineering technology for deep-water ocean research in various scientific fields, the company noted.

The site will include spaces for scientific research, instrument development, research platform engineering, and assembly.  

It will also comprise conference and multimedia rooms.

The building is situated parallel to research vessel docks in Moss Landing and is scheduled to open in late 2024.

McCarthy project director Kris Barr said: “We worked closely with the MBARI team to ensure that their vision was realised, alongside the geographic considerations of the harbour and shoreline campus.

“The tight site conditions and coastal environment created unique opportunities to the construction approach.”

McCarthy and its team now plan to proceed to the final stages of the site's interior and exterior to meet the building's oceanographic science and engineering needs.

Design subconsultants and trade partners involved in the project include exp Engineers, Collins Electrical, Granite Rock, Rutherford + Chekene, Westco, Axiom Engineers, FM Booth, BKF, and Rana Creek.