60NANB23D153

Purpose/Scope: The purpose of this project is to construct an addition of approximately 65,000 SF to the current five-story 244,000 SF National Weather Center building at the University of Oklahoma. This expansion will provide space for research laboratories, academic classrooms, and office space for growth in the expanding weather-related fields.

Activities to be performed: This National Weather Center expansion project will provide a building addition of approximately 65,000 SF. This expansion will provide space for research laboratories, academic classrooms, and office space for growth in the expanding weather-related fields.

Expected outcomes: There is an immediate need to expand the NWC facility to accommodate growth related to the School of Meteorology and the rapid growth in the academic radar program. OU is home to the number one ranked weather academic program in the nation and the largest academic radar program. The expansion of the current building will enhance the ability of the School of Meteorology to successfully scale up and meet the current and future demands of these programs. This expansion will also facilitate the unique collaboration between the school, the research organizations, and federal agencies, enabling them to deliver on large-scale sponsored research efforts.

Intended beneficiaries: The current National Weather Center (NWC) facility houses a unique collaboration of OU faculty, staff, and students along with specific weather-related organizations under the umbrella of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The NOAA organizations include the National Severe Storms Lab, the National Weather Service Norman Forecast Office, the Radar Operations Center Applications Branch, the Storm Prediction Center, and the Warning Decision Training Branch. The OU affiliated units include the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, the School of Meteorology, the Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, the Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms, the Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research and Operations, the Oklahoma Climatological Survey, and the Oklahoma Mesonet. The School of Meteorology has plans to add two or more new faculty per year through Fall 2028, equating to 10-12 new faculty. With each new faculty, there will be an addition of three to four graduate students and undergraduate students, along with the need for new office space and laboratories for teaching and research. In addition, the Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Operations, a $200 million long-term NOAA Cooperative Institute, is projected to need 50 new research scientists by fiscal year 2028. This projected academic and research growth, totaling an approximate 100-150 new FTES, sets the need for the increased office and laboratory space. The requested expansion to the National Weather Center building will meet many of the needs for this growth.

Subrecipient activities: None.

University Of Oklahoma

11.617 - Congressionally-Identified Projects

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) [DOC]

Norman, Oklahoma 73019-9705 United States

Single Zip Code

None