NOAA and OU break ground at National Weather Center Site

NOAA officials and representatives from OU took part in a ground breaking ceremony for the National Weather Center on November 1, 2002. The building will be the largest weather research center of its kind in the nation and the premier facility for severe storm research, prediction, forecasting and warning. The 244,000-square-foot building, which is scheduled to open in 2006, will be shared by the five NOAA organizations in Norman, including NSSL and CIMMS, and key weather organizations at the university. "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," said James R. Mahoney, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Deputy Administrator. "In addition, consolidation will leverage personnel and facilities resources, create synergy, and shorten the time for bringing research advancements into operations." Actual construction is expected to begin in July 2003.