Auburn University Gulf Coast Engineering Research Station
Advancing research and collaboration to protect coastal resources, strengthen communities and build a more resilient Gulf Coast.
The Auburn University Gulf Coast Engineering Research Station is an interdisciplinary research facility in Orange Beach, Alabama, created to bring researchers together to address the interconnected environmental and community challenges facing the Gulf Coast.
Research at the station will connect Auburn expertise with regional needs through collaborative, applied research focused on coastal environments, resources and communities.
Strategic partners: City of Orange Beach and University of South Alabama
Research Focus
Research at the Gulf Coast Engineering Research Station will focus on three broad areas critical to the coastal environment and communities of Alabama and the larger northern Gulf Coast region.
Water Quality and Quantity
Research focused on protecting and restoring the water resources that coastal communities, industries and ecosystems depend on.
Habitat and Living Resources
Research supporting the protection, restoration and conservation of coastal habitats and the living resources they sustain.
Coastal Sustainability and Resilience
Research addressing environmental, infrastructure and community challenges to strengthen the long-term sustainability and resilience of Gulf Coast communities.
Research Rooted in the Gulf Coast
The Gulf Coast is home to interconnected communities, ecosystems, industries and natural resources that face complex environmental challenges.
By establishing a permanent research presence in Orange Beach, Auburn will give researchers greater opportunities to work where those challenges occur, connect field and laboratory research and collaborate with organizations and communities throughout the region.
The station will support both fundamental and applied research designed to advance understanding of coastal systems while developing practical solutions that benefit the people and environments of the Gulf Coast.
Built for Coastal Research and Collaboration
The 21,000-square-foot, two-story Gulf Coast Engineering Research Station will provide a permanent home for Auburn research in Orange Beach, with space designed to support laboratory research, collaboration and engagement throughout the region.
21,000 Square Feet
A two-story research facility overlooking Terry Cove in Orange Beach.
Research Laboratories
Laboratory space will support research and analysis focused on Gulf Coast environmental challenges.
Collaborative Spaces
Offices and large meeting areas will provide space for researchers, students and partners to work together.
Coastal Access
The Orange Beach location places Auburn researchers closer to the coastal environments and communities their work is intended to serve.
Strategic Partnerships
The Gulf Coast Engineering Research Station is being developed through strategic partnerships with the City of Orange Beach and the University of South Alabama, bringing together local knowledge, regional research expertise and Auburn’s interdisciplinary strengths.
The City of Orange Beach provided the site for the research station and has worked with Auburn to establish a permanent research presence on the Alabama Gulf Coast.
Auburn’s partnership with the University of South Alabama will create opportunities for collaboration among researchers and students working on shared coastal and environmental challenges.
City of Orange Beach
A strategic partner in establishing the station and connecting Auburn research with the needs and opportunities of Gulf Coast communities.
University of South Alabama
A strategic research partner supporting collaboration across institutions on issues affecting Alabama and the broader Gulf Coast region.
Connecting Research with the Region
The Gulf Coast Engineering Research Station is intended to serve as a resource not only for Auburn researchers, but also for the communities, agencies, organizations and industries working throughout the Gulf Coast.
Through research partnerships, outreach and engagement, the station will create opportunities to connect Auburn expertise with regional needs and translate research into practical applications.
Research Partnerships
Opportunities for Auburn faculty and students to collaborate with universities, government agencies and other organizations on shared coastal challenges.
Community Engagement
Outreach and educational opportunities designed to connect Gulf Coast communities with Auburn research and expertise.
Applied Research
Research informed by real-world environmental and community needs, with an emphasis on practical solutions for the Gulf Coast region.