As work progresses steadily to develop and build a state-of-the-art marine research center in downtown Pensacola, the state agency behind the project has revealed preliminary design plans for the facility.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, or FWC,
As work progresses steadily to develop and build a state-of-the-art marine research center in downtown Pensacola, the state agency behind the project has revealed preliminary design plans for the facility.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, or FWC, is spearheading the plan to build the Florida Gulf Coast Marine Fisheries Hatchery and Enhancement Center. The long-planned research facility will be located on one of the few remaining vacant parcels along the downtown waterfront overlooking Pensacola Bay.
Baskerville-Donovan and Sam Marshall architects presented the conceptual plans for the development Thursday, detailing the design and layout of the $18 million facility.
First conceived in 2011, the facility is part of a larger vision held by the FWC to build a network of marine research labs around the state over the next 15 years to help restock depleted fish populations in coastal waters.
“FWC envisions this as an opportunity to expand our presence on the Gulf Coast and in Northwest Florida,” said Gill McRae, Director of the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.
The project is being funded with $18.8 million from Natural Resource Damage Assessment funds paid by BP in the wake of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster 100 miles off the Gulf Coast.
The project site has been home to a myriad of uses throughout its history. As far back as 1919, the Bruce Dry Dock Company operated at the site, acting as an industrial repair dry dock for larger commercial ships.
In the years following the Great Depression, the property became a public beach of sorts, becoming known as Bruce Beach. Historical documents show the beach was utilized by the large African-American community of the Tanyard and Belmont-DeVilliers neighborhoods. Up until the latter half of the 20th century, African-Americans were banned from most public beaches throughout the Pensacola area.
For much of the past half century, the waterfront site has remained undeveloped and littered with debris and waste. During construction of the Community Maritime Park, dredging at the Port of Pensacola, and other projects, dirt and other material was dumped at the Bruce Beach site.
“There doesn’t look to be an issue with contaminants,” officials with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection said. “Investigations of the property showed us that we would not have any issues with contamination on site.”
Project engineers say much of the site work has been done to ensure the property is ready for development. Plans call for th