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HAWAII INSTITUTE OF MARINE BIOLOGY
Coconut Island, Kaneohe, Hawaii

Situated on Coconut Island (Moku O Lo'e) in Kaneohe Bay, this one of a kind 24,000 square foot research facility is designed to be a world class marine biology laboratory within the EPA's Labs 21 and US Green Building Council's LEED® Gold rating standards. The island's surrounding 64 acres of pristine coral reef provides an unparalleled research environment for the study and investigation of marine mammals, corals and various species of reef fish.

Ferraro Choi and its design team provided a revised master plan for the expanded research facility, which included upgrading and interconnecting existing laboratories and support buildings with new laboratories. A new integrated energy efficient and environmentally sensitive infrastructure was also designed to protect the local ecosystem with the goal of developing the island into a self-sustaining site on the forefront of research and education.

The project consists of 12,000 square feet of biology labs designed as an intimate scientific village revolving around the individuality of the labs. Modular low impact construction techniques are to be utilized in the design to minimize adverse affects on the island's fragile environment. Another 12,000 square feet of wet labs and offices were designed within the shell of an existing 40-year-old laboratory building to continue the structure's long term usefulness and minimize new development and construction on the island. Extensive networks of salt-water marine holding tanks are also planned to expand on existing facilities.

Sustainable Design Strategies:

  1. Optimal building orientation
  2. Natural daylight and shading techniques
  3. Existing building reuse/renovation to minimize new development
  4. Panelized construction
  5. High-efficiency mechanical systems
  6. On-site low-impact environmental sewage treatment
  7. Rainwater harvesting
  8. LEED® recognized sustainable design strategies

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For more information, please visit:

arrow Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology
WEBSITE: http://www.hawaii.edu/HIMB/

FERRARO CHOI AND ASSOCIATES
Sustainable Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Research
733 BISHOP STREET, SUITE 2620
HONOLULU, HI 96813-4016
TEL: (808) 533-8880
FAX: (808) 599-3769
EMAIL: info@ferrarochoi.com
COPYRIGHT©2006
LAST UPDATED: 06.03.2007