According to NOAA, the facility will serve as the crown jewel in a new 50-acre section of the Univ. of Maryland's M-Square Research and Technology Park in Rockville.

The office and research complex will become the new home for NOAA's Satellite and Information Service, Air Resources Laboratory and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, an office of the National Weather Service. Approximately 800 people will work in the facility.

Virtually all the meteorological data collected globally will arrive at NOAA's Center for Weather and Climate Prediction. Environmental scientists will analyze this information and generate a wide variety of atmospheric and oceanic forecasts and guidance products using sophisticated numerical weather and climate prediction models.

"Our vision is clear: To create a new state-of-the-art facility for NOAA employees that enhances our ability to understand and meet global atmospheric challenges of today. Our goal is to create synergy with the research and academic community that will accelerate new science and technology into operations, improve forecast performance, and result in better service to the American public," says Conrad Lautenbacher, Jr., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.

Source: "NOAA Breaks Ground on Jewel Facility," R&D magazine, March 2006.