NOAA building at UNH seen as ‘transformative’ for NH

A recent beam-signing ceremony for a new National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) research facility at the University of New Hampshire is a mile marker along a road described as “a transformative economic development opportunity.”

Stakeholders in the facility — federal administrators, UNH personnel, state politicians and Durham officials — hail the new Center of Excellence for Operational Ocean and Great Lakes Mapping not only as a research mecca but also as the cornerstone of a larger development project that will drive cross-company collaboration, jobs and a broader tax base for the town of Durham.

Rear Admiral Christiaan van Westendorp of NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey chats with UNH President Elizabeth Chilton, left, and U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, right, during a beam signing ceremony marking a construction milestone of the agency’s new research facility on the Durham campus. (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Gasowski/UNH)

The 70,500-square-foot building is being constructed to anchor an area of the Durham-based campus known as The Edge at West End, a future 60-acre, mixed-use project of academic, corporate, government, residential and entertainment uses.

A traditional beam-signing ceremony July 13 gave some of the stakeholders an opportunity to describe what the facility means for the campus, the town, the region and the state.

“By creating a training ground for ocean-mapping experts, the project will both contribute to scientific innovations with real applications at NOAA while also adding new jobs to our coastal economy,” said U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), who worked to help fund the project that she described as being critical to safe navigation, disaster preparedness and national security.

Rear Admiral Christiaan van Westendorp of NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey said the center represents “the very best of what happens when federal agencies, industry leaders and premier academic institutions unite.”

“This milestone brings us one step closer to a modern hub of innovation that will transform how NOAA maps America’s waters and trains the hydrographic leaders of tomorrow,” he added.

Shaheen, van Westerndorp, UNH President Elizabeth Chilton and several others affixed their signatures on the white beam before it was raised in place. Also known as a “topping out,” this traditional construction industry beam placement in an important structural area of a building is typically done to honor the workers and bring good luck to the building’s future occupants.

“This building is a clear example of where UNH and the state of New Hampshire have developed sustained leadership and distinction,” said Chilton. “We are grateful to our federal and industry partners who have helped make this work possible.”

The new center builds on a two decades–plus relationship between NOAA and the UNH.

“Accurate and up-to-date maps of our ocean, coasts and Great Lakes are critical to maritime commerce, transportation and recreation, and directly support resilient coastal communities,” said Nicole LeBoeuf, director of NOAA’s National Ocean Service, said in an earlier statement about his group’s partnership with UNH.

“This new Center of Excellence will build on existing collaboration with UNH as we implement cutting-edge mapping technology and train the next generation of ocean and coastal mapping professionals,” she added.

The new facility will include office and instructional space, as well as a large-scale, high-bay area with overhead cranes for storing, outfitting and staging bulky equipment and small vessels. The center will provide a shared space for collaboration among NOAA staff, UNH faculty and students, and ocean industry partners who are expected to move to The Edge.

The facility will have room to house the John Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center, currently located in the former Goss Manufacturing building in Durham on Technology Drive.

“NOAA will anchor UNH’s new mixed-use complex, The Edge, which will be the core of activity for faculty, students, industry and government to come together, share ideas and execute cutting-edge concepts,” said Marian McCord, UNH senior vice provost for research, economic engagement and outreach, in a statement. “This breeding ground for innovation and invention will be a key player in providing economic growth for the town of Durham and growing the workforce in the state of New Hampshire.”

Durham Town Manager Todd Selig described the event, which he was not able to attend because of a prior commitment, “a genuinely meaningful moment for UNH, Durham and for New Hampshire.”

“As the first structure to be constructed from what has been largely surface parking lots and outdated single-story utility buildings, the NOAA facility signals in a meaningful way that The Edge is real, it’s happening and it’s moving forward,” said Selig.

The fact that The Edge project is moving forward is important, according to Selig, not only for the research and job opportunities, but for the housing and tax base opportunities it holds.

“A full buildout of The Edge is expected to accommodate around 1,000 people at any given time as residents, workers and visitors. That includes housing for young professionals employed by the companies that locate there, faculty and staff housing tied to UNH’s research mission, and potential graduate student housing, all of which addresses a genuine need in our region,” said Selig.

“The Seacoast has experienced significant housing cost pressure, and a thoughtfully designed residential component within The Edge could help alleviate some of that strain for the workforce UNH and its industry partners need to attract and retain,” he added.

As for the tax base, Durham has relatively few commercial/industrial taxpayers to offset what many in the town view as a heavy residential rate.

“The Edge represents what I genuinely believe could be a transformative economic development opportunity. Private industry co-located at The Edge would be fully taxable property, in contrast to traditional state-owned university buildings which are generally exempt from local property taxes,” said Selig.

“That distinction matters a great deal for a community like Durham. We have a relatively small tax base that carries a disproportionate burden from our public school obligations while also supporting the flagship state public university campus,” he added. “New taxable commercial and private residential development at The Edge has the potential to materially expand that base, provide meaningful tax relief for our local taxpayers, and fund the municipal services our residents and the university community both depend upon.”

The economic impact of a built-out Edge could mean $1 billion poured into the state economy over a 10-year period, according to Selig.

“For New Hampshire, which has long sought to keep its university graduates in-state, a vibrant innovation district with high-quality employment opportunities right at the doorstep of UNH is exactly the kind of anchor we need. Students who might otherwise depart for Boston or beyond would have strong reasons to build careers here in New Hampshire,” said Selig.