On September 21, Adam Marcus joined colleagues and leaders from California College of the Arts, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Port of Oakland representatives, and community members to commemorate the launch of the Buoyant Ecologies Float Lab in Oakland’s Middle Harbor. This innovative floating research station offers a first-of-its-kind approach to addressing the effects of climate change to be deployed in the San Francisco Bay. The event was organized by the Architectural Ecologies Lab (which Marcus co-directs with colleagues Margaret Ikeda and Evan Jones) in partnership with CCA’s Architecture Division and project funder CCA Center for Impact.

The Float Lab builds upon five years of applied research at CCA and merges expertise of architects and designers, advanced digital fabrication manufacturers, and marine ecologists. It is engineered to serve as a breakwater to reduce coastal erosion and also be a habitat for marine life in order to increase marine biodiversity. The Float Lab will be used as an educational tool in fulfillment of Middle Harbor Shoreline Park’s mission to be a place for learning about local history, natural environment, maritime activities, and stewardship for the environment.

The launch event included a public procession through the park, a performance by Oakland’s Edna Brewer Middle School Band, food, refreshments, DIY kite-making, coloring book activities, and specialty 3D-printed Float Lab-shaped cakes. Following introductory remarks by Marcus, Ikeda and Jones, speakers included a broad array of project supporters: Amy Tharpe and Richard Sinkoff of the Port of Oakland, President Stephen Beal and Dean of Architecture Keith Krumwiede of CCA, Regulatory Director Brad McCrea of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf.

For more details and photographs of the launch event, see this news release on the Architectural Ecologies Lab website.