NOAA 02-R
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11/1/02

Contact: Keli Tarp
(405) -366-0451
Cell (405) 203-4839
Keli.Tarp@noaa.gov

NOAA and University of Oklahoma break ground at new National Weather Center site

NOAA officials and representatives from the University of Oklahoma today broke ground for the National Weather Center, a new building in Norman, Okla., that will be one of the largest research centers in the world and the premier facility for severe storm research, prediction, forecasting and warning. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is an agency of the Commerce Department.

James R. Mahoney, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Deputy Administrator, joined OU President David Boren and other officials at a ceremony on the site where the building will stand.

The 244,000-square-foot building, which is scheduled to open in 2006, will combine the five NOAA organizations in Norman with several key weather organizations at the university. The estimated total cost is over $60 million, with NOAA's portion estimated to be approximately half that.

"The unique world-class weather center provides an opportunity to strengthen and extend the existing partnership between NOAA and the university," Mahoney said. "The new building will increase collaboration and communication for the weather forecasters and researchers engaged in complimentary efforts toward better forecasts and warnings of severe and hazardous weather."

The NOAA organizations (NOAA Weather Partners) to be located in the building are the Oceanic and Atmospheric Research's National Severe Storms Laboratory and four National Weather Service organizations: the Storm Prediction Center, the Norman Weather Forecast Office, the Warning Decision Training Branch and the Radar Operations Center's Application Branch. A total of approximately 263 NOAA staff will occupy 124,000 square feet of the building.

"The one-of-a-kind weather center will bring research and operations under one roof in support of NOAA's strategic goal of improving short-range forecasts and warnings," Mahoney said. "In addition, consolidation will leverage personnel and facilities resources, create synergy, and shorten the time for bringing research advancements into operations."

The new building solves urgent facilities problems and provides an opportunity bring NOAA's staff into improved facilities, Mahoney added.

Architects designing the building are at the 50 percent review stage. Construction is expected to begin in June, 2003.

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