News 2016: Demolition begins at School for Marine Science & Technology expansion site

News 2016: Demolition begins at School for Marine Science & Technology expansion site
Demolition begins at School for Marine Science & Technology expansion site

Demolition of Naval Reserve Building clears way for construction of new 76,000-square-foot facility for University’s School for Marine Science and Technology

SMAST rendering
A groundbreaking ceremony for the 76,000 sq ft facility was held in October 2015.

Construction of UMass Dartmouth’s School for Marine Science & Technology (SMAST) expansion took a major step forward this Monday with demolition beginning of the former Naval Reserve Center on Rodney French Boulevard in New Bedford. Bond Brothers, construction managers for this project, are overseeing the demolition, which clears the way for construction of the new 76,000-square-foot facility.

Combined with the existing SMAST facility next door, and built in collaboration with the Division of Marine Fisheries, the new $55 million building will create a comprehensive marine science campus in historic New Bedford, which is recognized as the nation's top fishing port and a potential base for offshore wind energy development. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in October 2015.