The WMSC is the centerpiece of the Institute. Named the Philip K. Wrigley Marine Science Center, they are a unique facility for marine, terrestrial and environmental science and education. The Center consists of a 30,000 square-foot laboratory building, a dormitory housing and cafeteria complex, a hyperbaric chamber, an administration building, and a large waterfront staging area complete with dock, pier, helipad, and diving lockers. These facilities are available to visiting scientists and educational groups for periods of one day to many months. We can even accommodate multi-annual research programs where appropriate. The facilities are also used by USC students and scientists and for full-semester course programs in the Biology Department and Environmental Studies Program of the USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

Housing and Dining Facilities

Dormitory housing and cafeteria facilities are located near the main laboratory building. The dormitory has 18 double-occupancy rooms divided into 9 suites; each two-room suite is joined by a bathroom. The spacious rooms have twin beds, desks, bookshelves, dressers, and large closets. Nine furnished one-bedroom apartments and two furnished two-bedroom apartments with kitchen facilities are available for a long-term occupancy. All housing is subject to availability.

Adjoining the dormitory-apartment complex is the cafeteria, which provides food service for up to 150 people. There are also outdoor barbecue and picnic facilities. A lounge area with couches/chairs, color television/VCR, and piano is nearby. Pool and ping-pong tables are also available. The lounge can also be used as a small conference area.

Laboratory Facilities

The Center's 30,000 square-foot laboratory building was renovated in the summer of 1996. It now includes:

• an 85-seat lecture hall with modern telecommunications capabilities, projection monitors, and traditional audiovisual equipment (carousel slide projectors and high intensity overhead projectors)

• T1 Internet capability through a fibre-optic link to USC. Two computer labs are also available for teaching and research.

• two teaching laboratories accommodating up to 36 students; each lab has freshwater sinks and seawater aquaria

• six research laboratories accommodating up to 24 researchers; each lab has freshwater sinks and seawater aquaria

• a library containing more than 700 books, 100 bound periodical volumes, 30 journals and other periodical subscriptions

• stockroom equipped with basic glassware, chemicals, small lab equipment, and freezer storage space

• machine shop stocked with tools and large equipment for repair or fabrication

A major advantage of conducting research at the WMSC is the availability of unlimited quantities of clean, high quality seawater that flows into aquaria after being pumped from a sub-marine intake into a 15,000-gallon storage tank. The water is untreated except for a macro-screen located on the intake pipes, and water entering the aquaria seldom rises more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit above ambient ocean temperatures. The water is available to the laboratory at 95 gallons per minute, and water that is not used is diverted to several 500-gallon tanks at the waterfront. Any sediment picked up at the intakes settles out in the storage tank, and no ionic or chemical contamination is possible, assuring scientists of excellent quality water. In certain instances, plumbing can be modified to meet specific research needs.

Waterfront Facilities

The waterfront facilities consist of a dock and pier, helipad, dive locker and diver staging area, and the USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber.

• Water depth beneath the 40-by-13-foot floating dock is 24 feet at MLLW. The dock is attached to a 70- by 20-foot standing pier supplied with 110V electrical outlets, a freshwater spigot, and a 5-ton capacity jib crane.

• Built to FAA specifications, the helipad is licensed by the State of California for day or night helicopter landings. It serves the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber and is also used during evacuation for other medical emergencies. It can be used for routine transportation to the mainland by special arrangement with independent helicopter services.

• Medical and work trailers supporting the lab, chamber, and habitat programs surround the hangar. Two dive lockers provide locked storage for gear, showers and dressing rooms for up to 80 divers, and an air compressor fills standard steel tanks to 2300 psi. A diver staging area is located outside the diving lockers, and includes freshwater tubs for rinsing gear and equipment.

• The Center's fleet of small boats is available to students and researchers, providing easy access to study sites within the Isthmus Cove area. Using financial support from the Friends of the Wrigley Institute, the Center maintains 15 private moorings for boats up to 70 feet in length.

The USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies is an ideal location for conferences and workshops. Its auditorium seats 85 people. The two conference rooms can hold 15-20 people, and a lounge area that accommodates 30 people can be furnished with audio-visual equipment to suit individual group requirements. The Institute's staff is experienced at arranging transportation, lodging, and conference support, and can organize field trips to both marine and terrestrial sites.

Overnight accommodations are available for approximately 60 people and some additional accommodation is available in nearby Two Harbors. The Institute's setting promotes close interaction and high productivity in a relaxed and retreat-like atmosphere.

Transportation to Catalina Island

Transportation to Catalina Island can be arranged either independently or through the Wrigley Institute staff.

• USC provides regular boat transportation from San Pedro to the Wrigley Marine Science Center, usually twice each week.
  

• Catalina Express, a commercial carrier operates regular boat service from San Pedro to Two Harbors most of the year. They also have regular boat service to Avalon from San Pedro, Long Beach, and Dana Point. Please check for scheduling and price.