Massachusetts Maritime Academy Dedicates Marinakis Hall During October 14th Ceremony Geothermal powered STEM building advances Academy’s commitment to sustainability

BUZZARDS BAY, MA, ISSUED OCTOBER 30, 2026…Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA; www.maritime.edu), a top-ranked public university with undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs focusing on science, engineering, technology, math, and business that blend academics and experiential learning, dedicated Marinakis Hall on October 14th. The STEM center is the Academy’s first net-zero energy-ready building and also the first campus facility connected to MMA’s new geothermal heat loop.

As a hub for advanced STEM education, Marinakis Hall represents a significant investment in innovation, sustainability, and hands-on learning.

“Marinakis Hall was designed to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of the rapidly evolving maritime industry,” said Rear Admiral Francis X. McDonald, USMS, president of Massachusetts Maritime Academy. “As the first building connected to our new geothermal heat loop, Marinakis Hall demonstrates that technological advancement and environmental responsibility can be achieved and progress in tandem.

“Marinakis Hall is a tribute to the memory of Miltiadis Marinakis, father of Evangelos. Miltiadis’ passion for shipping and his enduring drive to pioneer within industry serve as a constant reminder of the value of maritime education. We are incredibly grateful for Evangelos Marinakis’ generosity and support,” added Admiral McDonald.

Purpose-built to advance experiential learning in engineering, marine technology, and related disciplines, Marinakis Hall contains classrooms and specialized instructional spaces, including a fabrication lab, makerspace, operations and controls lab, electronics lab, and dedicated biology, physics, and chemistry laboratories.

The new STEM center was dedicated during the October 14th ceremony by Rear Admiral McDonald and Evangelos Marinakis, founder and chairman of Capital Maritime & Trading Corp.  Capital Maritime and its affiliated companies operate a total fleet of 200 ships with an overall tonnage of approximately 18 million tonnes (dwt), across the tanker, container, LNG, LPG/Ammonia, LCO2, offshore and dry bulk segments.

Marinakis, the recipient of an honorary degree from the Academy in 2024, is one of the leading shipowners in the maritime industry, an international businessman, investor, and philanthropist.

“Our sponsorship for the creation of the STEM Center at MMA aims at addressing a vital need: to transform the shipping industry. And this transformation is achieved through higher education, the advancement of innovation, and scientific and technological excellence. It is a sponsorship made at MMA, but it concerns global shipping,” said Marinakis. “This STEM center was built to meet those challenges head-on. Equipped with top-tier scientific facilities, Miltiadis Marinakis Hall will give the students of this Academy the advanced education they need to lead the global industry into tomorrow.”

Marinakis Hall was co-commissioned by the Academy and the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Construction (DCAMM). The building’s construction was a collaborative effort between BOND Building Construction, project architect Ellenzweig, BR + A Consulting Engineers and numerous partners.

About Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA): MMA is a fully accredited, four-year, co-educational state university offering Bachelor and Master of Science degrees that are highly regarded in the worldwide maritime industry and beyond. For more than 100 years, MMA has prepared women and men for exciting and rewarding careers on land and sea. As the nation’s finest co-ed maritime college, MMA challenges students to succeed by balancing a unique regimented lifestyle with a typical four-year college environment. Located on Cape Cod, at the mouth of the scenic Cape Cod Canal, Massachusetts Maritime Academy is the ideal college to pursue the love for the ocean, concern for the environment, interest in math and science, and a thirst for adventure.