{"id":109600,"date":"2026-06-23T13:37:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T13:37:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/?p=109600"},"modified":"2026-06-26T14:59:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T14:59:34","slug":"ribbon-cutting-of-uri-ocean-robotics-laboratory-marks-milestone-for-narragansett-bay-campus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/ribbon-cutting-of-uri-ocean-robotics-laboratory-marks-milestone-for-narragansett-bay-campus\/","title":{"rendered":"Ribbon cutting of URI Ocean Robotics Laboratory marks milestone for Narragansett Bay Campus"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A rendering of the outside of the Oceans Robotics Laboratory on URI\u2019s Narragansett Bay Campus.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

June 23, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Thursday, June 25, <\/strong>University of Rhode Island President Marc Parlange and Gov. Dan McKee will join elected officials, members of URI\u2019s 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<\/a>. The ribbon will be cut underwater using URI\u2019s remotely operated vehicle Rhody<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The two-story, high-bay staging area features a 20-foot-wide by 30-foot-long test tank.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revitalization of the campus has been supported by Rhode Island voters, who approved two bond referenda totaling $145 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHO:<\/strong> URI President Marc Parlange, Gov. Dan McKee, URI Board of Trustees Chair Margo Cook, House Speaker emeritus K. Joseph Shekarchi, interim Dean of URI\u2019s Graduate School of Oceanography Steve D\u2019Hondt, Dean of URI\u2019s College of Engineering Anthony Marchese, members of the R.I. Senate and House of Representatives, faculty, staff and students<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHAT:<\/strong> Ribbon cutting celebration for the University of Rhode Island\u2019s new Ocean Robotics Laboratory. Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, ocean engineering and oceanography professors will be available in their respective labs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHEN:     <\/strong>Thursday, June 25, 11 a.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHERE:<\/strong>    URI Narragansett Bay Campus
215 South Ferry Road
Narragansett, RI<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CONTACT<\/strong>: Neil Nachbar, URI Marketing and Communications, 401-874-4946, neil_nachbar@uri.edu<\/a> to make coverage arrangements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

URI OCEAN ROBOTICS LABORATORY BACKGROUND<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construction of URI\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Components of the building include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n