Hundreds turned out on Wednesday, May 29, to celebrate the ribbon cutting for AltaSea’s Center for Innovation, which transformed three 110-year-old port warehouses into a space many hope will come up with answers to the world’s environmental challenges.
“It’s taken almost a decade,” said AltaSea President and CEO Terry Tamminen, “but, thanks to all of you, we made it.”
The completion the three main warehouse spaces — all under one roof — marks a major push forward in the dream once floated by former Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Geraldine Knatz. The goal is to bring together universities, researchers and entrepreneurs to focus on the emerging “blue economy,” centering around answers that may dwell in the world’s oceans.
The idea, floated initially in the early 2000s, was to bring together universities and researchers to form the world’s largest ocean research tech hub operating from a 35-acre campus now known as City Dock One, 2451 Signal St., in San Pedro.
The warehouses have stood largely empty near the Port of Los Angeles’ Outer Harbor. But with new doorways, fresh paint, artwork and restrooms, the spaces unveiled Wednesday are beginning to look like home to tenants who have already been operating inside.
Multiple speakers on Wednesday hailed the Annenberg Foundation — which was the first investor and continues to provide funding — and Jenny Krusoe, Alta Sea’s founding executive director, as instrumental in the concept getting started.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, meanwhile, said AltaSea will likely be a visitor highlight when the World Cup and the Olympics come to L.A. in 2026 and 2028, respectively.
“This is a historic day for our city and our state,” Bass said.
U.S. Rep. Nanette Barragan, D-Carson, who has worked to get funding on behalf of the campus, and LA Councilmember Tim McOsker also spoke during the ceremony.
McOsker recalled being a “student-professional worker” in 1980, doing cleanup in the…
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