STEPPED INLET RESEARCH CENTER

Set along the Lynnhaven Inlet, east of the Lesner Bridge, our project is conceived as a research and educational
campus that engages both the ecological dynamics of the water and the shifting conditions of the coastal edge. Rather than a singular building, the design is composed of multiple smaller CMU-constructed volumes, carefully positioned to frame views, mediate exposure to prevailing winds, and allow water and landscape systems to move through the lower portion of the site. This design reduces the visual and environmental impact of the architecture while enabling a more adaptable and resilient structural strategy on a flood-prone site. The new design is intentionally elevated while seleect lower level volumes are designed with a degree of flood tolerance. The use of concrete masonry reinforces this strategy and resistance to water damage, accomodating water without complete failure, while, critical program is preserved within the elevated ground. The design’s tiered approach creates a gradient of resilience across the campus.