Research, Education, & Administration Building

The Research, Education, & Administration Building is where many of the day-to-day operations take place. On the first floor is the central lobby and a wave tank for education programs and research testing. The second floor is where most of the education and public programming takes place, while the third floor has a variety of labs and faculty offices. 

In addition to the beautiful views which overlook campus and the sound, the Research, Education, & Administration Building boasts of classrooms and labs with distance education capabilities, a seminar room which can

accommodate up to 100 individuals and an adjacent catering kitchen, a computer teaching lab, and a design lab. Each of these spaces may be available for use to outside organizations provided the entity has a mission that is public service driven and aligns with the mission and non-advocacy standard of CSI.

Marine Operations Building

The Coastal Studies Institute (CSI) maintains a fleet of research vessels and technical equipment for research and education activities in the Outer Banks region, and The Marine Operations Building houses a full dive locker and repair room, as well as all field equipment and vessels. Our fleet includes:

42′ Duffy – “Miss Caroline”

• Offshore, nearshore and inshore capabilities
• Draft approximately 4.5′
• A-frame and hydraulic deck winch, 2000 lb capacity
• 1000 hp Caterpillar diesel engine, cruise at 17 knots

28.5′ Privateer – “Blackbeard”

• Offshore, nearshore and inshore capabilities
• Draft approximately 3′
• 300 lb capacity davit with electric windlass and manual winch
• Twin Yamaha 225 hp engines

30′ Sightseer Pontoon – “Discovery”

• Inshore use only
• 25 person capacity
• Twin 90 hp Mercury engines

24′ Carolina Skiff

• Inshore use only
• Draft approximately 1.5′
• Yamaha 150 hp engine with electric jack plate

Seadoo Jetski

• Inshore and nearshore capabilities
• Beach launchable

Roanoke Island Trails

The Collins Trail, part of the Roanoke Island Trail, has two parts: a short fitness trail alongside the Dare Center Building, and a 2-mile section that weaves through maritime forests and quiet, residential neighborhoods along the Croatan Sound to the Coastal Studies Institute on the ECU Outer Banks Campus. Trail users have the chance to observe a coastal woodland habitat, wide open expanses of marsh, and all kinds of wildlife along its winding path. On campus, the Coastal Studies Institute is currently working to install signs along the path and around campus highlighting native plants and animals, as well as marsh ecology.