NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

"If you build it, they will come." That's the line from a 1980s movie that applies to scientists and engineers who are excited about a new environmentally friendly building being constructed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. in the next year.

Image right: This is an artist's rendering of the new NASA Goddard "Exploration Sciences Building," which should be completed in 2009. Click on image for high resolution. Image Credit: EwingCole

The three-story office and laboratory building that will be called the "Exploration Sciences Building" will be the new workplace for NASA scientists and engineers that study the solar system and the entire universe.

NASA wanted the new building to be "a green building" or one that's friendly to the environment. So the task of designing the building was given to EwingCole Architects and Engineers of both Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

What makes this a "green building" is that EwingCole designed it to use water and energy more efficiently than other buildings. In addition, the materials used to construct the building are better for the environment (for example, they are made from recycled products or they are materials located nearby to save on truck delivery travel costs and energy). Other items that are good for the environment include using a light colored roof, which reflects more of the sun's energy and reduces building cooling costs.

EwingCole also designed the building to have better air to breathe inside. New building products can come with chemicals that make people have more allergies and make it harder to breathe. By building with healthier materials, people don’t get sick as quickly, they enjoy being inside more and they don’t get tired as quickly. A new building should have a well-designed heating and cooling system that brings fresh air to all rooms of the building, and responds quickly to hot or cold areas of the building. A green building helps create places that are comfortable, have healthy air, and feel good to the people who work in those spaces.

Image left: Tossing the first dirt during the groundbreaking ceremony on July 16, 2007 at Goddard were (left to right): Laurie Leshin, director of sciences and exploration at NASA Goddard; Congressman Steny H. Hoyer, Representative of Marylandís Fifth Congressional District; Shana Dale, deputy administrator, NASA Headquarters, Washington; and Dr. Edward Weiler, NASA Goddard's center director. The building is expected to be completed in 2009. Click on image for high resolution. Image Credit: NASA / Pat Izzo

"EwingCole applied unique design strategies to meet NASA’s needs," said Jim Wolters, AIA, director of operations and principal in charge of the project at EwingCole. Architects worked with a lab planning consultant, M+W Zander, to design efficient and effective laboratory spaces, including new chemistry, electronics and research laboratories, computer rooms and offices.

The official groundbreaking ceremony for the building occurred on July 16 at Goddard. Speakers included Edward Weiler, NASA Goddard's center director, Laurie Leshin, director of sciences and exploration at NASA Goddard, and Congressman Steny H. Hoyer, Representative of Maryland’s Fifth Congressional District. Armed with their golden shovels, they each assisted with the first dig on the site.

David Larsen, Exploration Sciences Building Project Manager at Goddard said, "The Exploration Sciences Building will serve as the primary tie in the effort to bring together the currently divided east and west campuses."

NASA has awarded a contract to Manhattan Construction Company of Fairfax, Va., for the construction of the building, beginning later in 2007.

More information:
+ Click here for more information about NASA Goddard
+ Click here for more information about EwingCole

Rob Gutro / NASA GSFC