NARRAGANSETT, R.I. (WPRI) — A transformation is underway at the University of Rhode Island's Bay Campus in Narragansett. Federal and state leaders joined URI President Marc Parlange on Thursday to celebrate progress on the project. U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner, who spoke at the event, said the upgraded campus will help expand Rhode Island's leadership in the blue economy. "What this shows is that in Rhode Island, we are committed to URI. We are committed to being national leaders in this space and global leaders in this space," Magaziner said. "We want to make sure that the innovation that is happening in this space is happening in Rhode Island." ALSO READ: URI ranked best public university in New England Robert Ballard, an oceanographer best known for discovering the wreck of the Titanic who now teaches at URI, is throwing his support behind the Bay Campus' new robotic laboratory. "We need the technology to accelerate that rate of discovery," Ballard said. "This new building will make that possible as we move towards an autonomous vehicle system and advanced robotics." Those advanced robotics will go hand-in-hand with the Narragansett Dawn, a new $125 million research ship arriving in 2027. A new pier for the vessel was unveiled last year. Two additional "state-of-the-art" facilities with space for classrooms, offices and labs are also on the horizon. The project was made possible when voters approved a two bond referenda totaling more than $145 million. "Everybody here has a role to play in the global leadership that URI is attaining, and in solving some of the big pressing problems that the world is facing," said Ballard, who believes the work is vital to the future of Rhode Island and beyond. "52% of the country is under the ocean, and we are exhausting our resources on land," he said. "We need marine sanctuaries so that we can have life that can sustain itself." Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup SIGN UP NOW