Ribbon cutting of URI Ocean Robotics Laboratory marks milestone for Narragansett Bay Campus

A rendering of the outside of the Oceans Robotics Laboratory on URI’s Narragansett Bay Campus.

June 23, 2026

On Thursday, June 25, University of Rhode Island President Marc Parlange and Gov. Dan McKee will join elected officials, members of URI’s Board of Trustees and URI faculty, staff and students tocelebrate a major milestone in the $300 million, multi-phase revitalization of the Narragansett Bay Campus with a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Ocean Robotics Laboratory. The ribbon will be cut underwater using URI’s remotely operated vehicle Rhody.

The two-story, high-bay staging area features a 20-foot-wide by 30-foot-long test tank.

Construction of the 32,000-square-foot facility began in March 2024. The building will feature, among other things, a two-story, high-bay staging area with a 4,500-cubic-foot freshwater test tank and 10-ton bridge crane. The facility will advance the design and development of technology-driven solutions, while fostering collaboration and innovation across the University, with other colleges and universities, and through public-private partnerships.

The revitalization of the campus has been supported by Rhode Island voters, who approved two bond referenda totaling $145 million.

WHO: URI President Marc Parlange, Gov. Dan McKee, URI Board of Trustees Chair Margo Cook, House Speaker emeritus K. Joseph Shekarchi, interim Dean of URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography Steve D’Hondt, Dean of URI’s College of Engineering Anthony Marchese, members of the R.I. Senate and House of Representatives, faculty, staff and students

WHAT: Ribbon cutting celebration for the University of Rhode Island’s new Ocean Robotics Laboratory. Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, ocean engineering and oceanography professors will be available in their respective labs.

WHEN: Thursday, June 25, 11 a.m.

WHERE: URI Narragansett Bay Campus
215 South Ferry Road
Narragansett, RI

CONTACT: Neil Nachbar, URI Marketing and Communications, 401-874-4946, neil_nachbar@uri.edu to make coverage arrangements.

URI OCEAN ROBOTICS LABORATORY BACKGROUND

Construction of URI’s 32,000-square-foot Ocean Robotics Laboratory began in March 2024. The equipment and robotics designed and developed in the building will create opportunities for collaborations within URI, among university partners, and through public-private ventures.

Components of the building include:

A two-story, high-bay staging area that is approximately 5,000 square feet. This area will be used to test devices and prepare them for transport to a research vessel.
The staging area includes a 20-foot-wide by 30-foot-long test tank that has a uniform depth of 15 feet. The tank walls have a full array of data and power connections to support the underwater research vehicle and test equipment without needing cables on the floor or overhead.
Eight primary labs are located on the first floor with direct access to either the staging area or patio, which is convenient for use of the test tank or testing satellite communications outdoors.
Eight secondary labs are available for shared or individual use as projects expand or contract.
Two 800-square-foot shops adjacent to the staging area and test tank will provide manufacturing capabilities.
Single-occupancy offices will accommodate faculty members from the Graduate School of Oceanography and the College of Engineering’s Department of Ocean Engineering as well as one visiting principal investigator. Additional office space will house technical and administrative support staff, workspace for 20 graduate students, and team collaboration space.
On the second floor, an incubator suite is available for collaborative research and development with blue economy partners from industry or government.