OHD - National Water Center

Content-Length: 171096 | pFad | http://www.weather.gov/owp/oh_nwc

ad OHD - National Water Center

nwc_image

Overview: National Water Center (NWC)

65,000 SF facility on the campus of University of Alabama (UA), Tuscaloosa; 205 Hackberry Lane Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

Green Building: NWC will be LEED Gold

First national water resources facility in the country that will serve as a catalyst for the Integrated Water Resources Science and Services (IWRSS) partnership, or IWRSS. Toward that end, a new partnership has been launched.

IWRSS, which consists of NOAA; the US Geological Survey (USGS); and the Army Corps of Engineers as its initial members, will unify and leverage each agency's expertise and investments to improve water resource forecasts, understand how water moves across the land and rivers, and facilitate creative and informed decisions--all utilizing the best available science.

IWRSS Information Sheet

IWRSS Memorandum of Understanding

IWRSS Roadmap

Designed specifically for major programmatic functions:

Operations Center with Situation Rooms

Establish common operating picture for floods to droughts; begin demonstration of hourly summit-to-sea analyses and forecasts of soil moisture, evapotranspiration, and snow pack; and expand demonstration of Real-Time Dynamic Flood Inundation Mapping portraying the extent, depth, and impacts of flood waters to enhance community resiliency and enable decision makers to mitigate the impacts of floods.

Geo-Intelligence Laboratory

Develop, implement and maintain state-of-the science enterprise Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to support NWS operations

Collaborative Science and Software Engineering Studio

Optimized development environment to better share and leverage investments and advances in science, technology and modeling

Systems Proving Ground

Dedicated facility to test new capabilities prior to field implementation, minimize operational risk, and accelerate deployment from research to operations

Distance Learning Classroom and Auditorium

Facilitate cost-effective, state-of-the-art residence and distance learning to maintain and enhance technical competencies and enable field to easily leverage NWC knowledge base

Build Schedule

Design-Build contract awarded to Triune-Beck in September, 2011

Ceremonial ground-breaking in February 2012

Attended by NOAA's Dr. Kathryn Sullivan; Senator Shelby; Dr. Robert Witt, Chancellor of the University of Alabama system; William Werkheiser, USGS Associate Director of Water; members of UA Board of Trustees

Construction completion in December 2013. The NWC is expected to open in Spring 2014.

Feb 2012	Jun 2012	Sept 2012	Dec 2012
Jan 2013	Feb 2013	Mar 2013	Apr 2013
Apr 2013 - Basement	Apr 2013 - 1st Floor	Apr 2013 - 2nd Floor	Design Plans
Late Apr 2013	Late Apr 2013 Rotunda	Late Apr 2013 1st Floor	Late Apr 2013 2nd Floor
Late Apr 2013 Exterior Site	May 2013	May 2013 1st & 2nd Floor	June 2013 Exterior and Basement
June 2013 First and Second Floors	July 2013 Exterior	July 2013 Basement	July 2013 First Floor
July 2013 Second Floor	July 2013 Roof	November 2013 Exterior	November 2013 Basement
November 2013 First Floor	November 2013 Second Floor	Late November 2013

2011

The NOAA project management team (NWS Office of Hydrologic Development, NWS Office of Operational Support, and NOAA Office of the Chief Administrative Officer) worked closely to develop design plans and documentation for the NWC. This information was developed into bridging documents that were published as part of the design-build solicitation for the facility. The competition was held, and NOAA awarded a contract to Triune-Beck in September. Initial meetings between the NOAA project management team and Triune-Beck were held late in the year.
2012

The NOAA project management team and Triune-Beck continued the design process for the NWC as initial stages of construction began. In February, the ceremonial groundbreaking was held. The Honorable Richard Shelby was in attendance. Dr. Kathryn Sullivan was the ranking representative of NOAA, while UA President Robert Witt and members of the UA Board of Trustees also attended. Construction began in earnest in Summer 2012 and continued for the rest of the year. NOAA and Triune-Beck completed all but a few elements of the design process by December.
2013

The pace of construction has accelerated in 2013 as the facility is slated for occupation in Spring 2014. By March, most foundations had been installed. Steel erection is progressing: the sloped roof, dome and the west half of the roof framing are installed. The columns along the west colonnade are in place. The 2nd floor metal deck is largely in place. In the enclosed basement, ductwork, and piping is progressing.

+ -

Main Link Categories:
Home | NWS

Follow us on Twitter

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on YouTube