College of Marin reports snags in coast lab project
Persistent rain has delayed the opening of College of Marin's new marine laboratory and field station in Bolinas, administrators said.
The $6.9 million field station along the Bolinas Lagoon was expected to open its classrooms and research facilities in September. But Jonathan Eldridge, the college president, said he is “hopeful it will be ready” late this year.
“But we won't be able to state a more definitive timeframe for a few weeks, due to ongoing weather and other issues,” he said Friday.
Eresa Puch, a vice president at the college, told its trustees at a recent meeting that project contractors have had 29 rain days off since work started in July.
“When rain is forecast, the contractors call in a day before to cancel work,” Puch said.
The lab's construction schedule includes only five rain days, according to Beth Rhodes, program manager for Gilbane Building Co.
Puch also noted that the building will need a considerable upgrade from AT&T. She said she is waiting for cost estimates and an installation schedule.
“We will need 300 units of power,” she said at the meeting.
“The building currently only has 100 units.”
The project has attracted considerable financial support from individual donors and institutions, said Keith Rosenthal, the college's fundraising director.
“The original funding gap was $2.5 million,” Rosenthal told trustees during a recent board meeting. “We've done incredibly well in closing the gap.”
About $1.935 million has been raised in individual and foundation donations, Rosenthal said.
“The first gift was in September 2021,” Rosenthal said. “The last gift was August of 2023.”