Yesterday we shared a story about a newly discovered coral reef that stretches as high as the Empire State Building. Now, a new coral conservation center is aiming to protect this structure and all types of coral in the Great Barrier Reef.
Drawn up by Contreras Earl Architecture, the world’s first dedicated coral conservation center is set to be constructed in Port Douglas, North Queensland, Australia and will cultivate and protect over 800 species of hard corals, known as scleractinia. It will be called The Living Coral Biobank and was commissioned by the nonprofit Great Barrier Reef Legacy.
The creative design is meant to replicate coral itself and will feature energy-efficient sustainable design. The building will be home to conservation habitats as well as an auditorium, classrooms, and research space. The building will host sea-water cooling technology, solar panels, and an innovative design that takes advantage of the sun’s movement for temperature control throughout the day.
Although many innovative solutions are working to preserve the Great Barrier Reef, the biobank will serve as a last resort for protecting some of the world’s most vulnerable coral species from extinction, much like Norway’s Global Seed Vault does for plants. This solution for coral preservation and study is set to be completed in 2025.
