NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction

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• Four-story, 268,762 square foot building in Riverdale, MD housing 800+ Federal employees, and contractors• 5 NCEP Centers (NCO, EMC, HPC, OPC, CPC)• NESDIS Center for Satellite Applications and

Research (STAR)• NESDIS Satellite Analysis Branch (SAB)• OAR Air Resources Laboratory

• Includes 40 spaces for visiting scientists• Includes 464 seat auditorium/

conference center, library, deli, fitness center and health unit

Green Building Design

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• Candidate for Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEEDTM Green Building Rating System

• Built using materials with recycled and local content, including highly efficient glass

• Sunshades to optimize energy performance• 60% of roof surface is covered with low growing plants for

better insulation• Outside are bio-retention areas, a storm water cistern to collect

water for irrigation and a four-story rainwater waterfall to drain the roof

• Inside occupancy sensors for the lighting systems, carpets and paints selected to preserve quality of indoor air

Collaborative Building Design

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• Designed to facilitate collaboration – 1st floor contains critical infrastructure and NCO staff

• 10, 000 square ft data center consolidates five data centers from WWB• Dual network and power feeds• Three generators provide redundant backup capability

– 2nd floor – data/model improvement issues• Colocation of organizations that deal with critical observing issues (NESDIS

STAR), data assimilation issues (JCSDA) and model development and transition activities (EMC)

• Accelerates the use of new observing systems to improve weather and climate prediction

– 3rd floor – climate theme• Contains CPC, sections of NESDIS STAR and the Climate Test Bed• Will lead to improved climate prediction techniques and products

– 4th floor – houses all operational units• HPC, OPC, NESDIS SAB• NCO’s Senior Duty Meteorologist• Media Center