We are excited to announce that the Virginia Institute of Marine Science Eastern Shore Laboratory Complex has been been recognized with an Honorable Mention for Contextual Design in the AIA Virginia Design Awards! We’re thrilled by this recognition, which validates our success in tackling the two most complex aspects of the project—the comprehensive flood-mitigation strategy and the careful integration of a world class research institution into the small coastal town of Wachapreague. The result is an unassuming campus that has established itself as a benchmark for floodproof design and coastal resilience.
VIA has served as a long-term partner of VIMS, with our partnership spanning almost two decades. This enduring collaboration began with the design of the Eastern Shore Seawater Laboratory and Seaside Hall, which completed construction in 2012. The complex itself is knitted into the small coastal fishing town of Wachapreague, VA, where it has been since 1961, drawn by the town’s unparalleled coastal access and water quality ideal for shellfish research. In 2016, VIMS decided to undertake a significant expansion to further enhance the Eastern Shore Campus and better match the quality of it’s globally recognized research and educational programs. VIA conducted an in-depth feasibility study which focused on replacing outdated and flood-prone structures with a comprehensive complex to support the functions of marine research. This included an aquaculture hatchery, laboratory space, administration, education, housing, maintenance and storage.
A Comprehensive Model for Coastal Resilience
VIA’s Expertise in Floodproof Design
Because the Eastern Shore Campus’ critical coastal research depends on close proximity to the water, the subsequent design intentionally positioned the six new buildings within or near a floodplain. To ensure each building could withstand rising sea levels and extreme weather events, VIA worked closely with VIMS to develop a comprehensive flood mitigation strategy. The design team embraced designing with water, implementing intensive “Flood Proof Design Approach” charrettes that allowed buildings and landscapes to be resilient by addressing flooding as a natural process.
Each building’s site was specifically chosen and designed based on its unique functional requirements and risk profile, factoring in current and future needs, flood risk, durability, and resilience, all while ensuring its vital connection to the water. The comprehensive flood mitigation strategy developed by VIA employed five different flood-proofing techniques to keep the entire complex operational and protect critical research during extreme weather events.
For buildings located directly along the waterfront, the flood risks were most extreme, sitting in FEMA AE-8 and VE-11 flood zones. For these critical facilities, an Executive Order variance was secured from the Governor’s Office, permitting construction for “water dependent use” structures. These tour de force hardened, hurricane-resistant, “contingent” structures are constructed from formed-in-place 10-foot-high foundation walls stemming from concrete pile foundations and pile caps. Their finish floors, deliberately positioned 5 feet into the floodplain, allows optimal convenience for daily operations and marine life experiments. In the event of severe weather, flood logs can be installed at all openings to provide protection and allow for quick recovery after a storm. For buildings set further back from the water, ranging from FEMA AE-8, AE-7 and X flood zones, solutions ranged from elevated “permanent” construction with deep-driven timber piles and CMU foundation walls—complete with added wind and insulation protection—to slab-on-grade construction in lower-risk areas, with all areas supported by campus-wide infiltration practices like rain gardens and permeable pavers to manage surface flooding.
Seamless Integration into a Small Town
Honoring Coastal Vernacular
Threading new construction into the fabric of Wachapreague required a careful eye for scale and detail. The design team drew inspiration directly from the historic coastal vernacular to achieve seamless integration. Materials and form selection for the complex’s exterior were meticulously chosen to mirror the existing architecture of surrounding homes and businesses. Examples include using similar siding, incorporating screened porches, and mimicking roof forms and color palettes.
The design team also ensured long-term durability in the salt-rich environment by utilizing non-corrosive metals like stainless steel and aluminum, and focused on using readily available materials to ensure the complex could be easily maintained with local resources and suppliers. Through these thoughtful architectural choices, the complex achieved a natural harmony with the coastal vernacular of the rural seaside town. Visitors would never suspect that an internationally acclaimed research institute is nestled among the homes and businesses of Wachapreague.
By artfully designing the new collection of buildings to be a natural extension of Wachapreague’s, while simultaneously creating a resilient and state-of-the-art facility, the VIMS Eastern Shore Laboratory Complex has established a new benchmark for coastal resilience.
Stay tuned for a more comprehensive case study diving deeper into the technical details of the Complex’s floodplain design and resilience strategies!