In 1881, the University of Caen installed a maritime laboratory in a villa that belonged to Arcisse de Caumont in Luc-sur-Mer (Calvados). Thus, for more than 135 years, the University of Caen Normandie has been developing at the Luc-sur-Mer Marine Station multiple teaching and research activities in the field of the sea and the coast which have been grouped within the Centre de Recherches en Environnement Côtier (C.R.E.C.) since 1985. The Centre was set up to bring together UNICAEN research teams whose activities relate to the coastal field. Today, the CREC aims to unite the actors involved in the “Mer — Littoral” domain, whether they are academic actors or more broadly institutional or private partners through the provision of specific resources (technical, logistical and administrative support), in the framework of three perfectly complementary and inseparable missions: research, observation of the coastal zone and education. In order to carry out these missions, the Marine Station benefits from shared resources which are specific, including means at sea, technical means (equipment) of observation, livestock structures with access to sea water (pump station), and laboratories. CREC research teams recognised by the Ministry of Research and the major research organisations (CNRS, MNHN) show a complementarity of theirs which allow them to participate closely in local and regional socio-economic development, in partnership with numerous regional and interregional research centres. Currently, five UNICAEN research units are members of CREC: UMR BOREA, UMR M2C, UMR LETG, UMR ethos, EA ABTE. CREC participates in certified national observation networks such as CNRS SOMLIT (Service d’Observation du Milieu Littoral). The Marine Station is also a place for training through research. It allows the reception of teachings for various Masters and Research. As part of the Real Estate and Planning Director (SDIA) and the scientific program of the research teams of the CREC, it was decided to renovate, but also to reorganise the occupation of the premises. This operation is included in the State-Region Plan Contract (CPER) 2015-2020. The Marine Station’s premises affected by the operation are outdated and some of them have been closed since August 2015 for health and safety issues. This means that researchers currently have to make numerous round trips between the university campuses of Caen and the CREC.Thus, the objectives of the project "CREC sont:1/de develop in situ research activities by allowing research teams to establish themselves full-time at CREC 2/improve the working conditions of researchers within the structure by using areas formerly dedicated to hosting for research. 3/Federate and develop the Mer-Littoral theme at Normandy level within COMUE NU4/Doting our Norman territory with efficient, pooled tools for marine research (farming structures, laboratories, experimental rooms, etc.) in particular in line with the CPER MANCHE2021 project.This EUR 5.7 million operation carried out in three phases is in line with the guidelines put forward in RIS3 low-normande for the field of “Mieux and Resources for a Healthy and Sustainable Feeding (middle and marine resources) and those of RIS3”standards for marine energy integration and renewable energies. In the long term, this project should improve the legibility of the structuring of marine research and increase the visibility of Norman territory internationally.