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Oceanographic Office Opens Environmentally Friendly Facility

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090528-24
Release Date: 5/28/2009 7:23:00 PM

By Shannon Breland, Naval Oceanographic Office Public Affairs

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. (NNS) -- The Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) cut the ribbon to a 171,000-square foot, state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly Ocean Sciences Building (OSB) May 28 at Stennis Space Center.

Roy Anderson Corp. of Gulfport, Miss., was the building's primary contractor and created 650 jobs during the construction project. Former U.S. Senator Trent Lott broke ground for the $47.1-million facility in 2006, and U.S. Congressman Gene Taylor cut the ribbon during the most recent event.

In brief remarks, Taylor emphasized Mississippi's strong relationship with the U.S. Navy and thanked the personnel of NAVOCEANO for the crucial support they provided to the community following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

"The information you gather, process and store here is used every day by the fleet," said Taylor.

The structure, designed specifically for the Navy's needs, includes laboratory and workspaces for 270 of NAVOCEANO's 1,000 personnel and the largest gathering place available for command all hands calls.

A stone's throw from the existing NAVOCEANO headquarters complex, the new building is also home to the Navy's Fleet Survey Team, a subordinate command to NAVOCEANO tasked with conducting hydrographic surveys around the world in support of safe navigation.

NAVOCEANO provides oceanographic products and services to all elements within the Department of Defense. Those products and services hinge on accurate data collected upon the office's seven ships using a variety of equipment, systems and sensors.

Prior to the construction of the OSB, more than a dozen laboratories responsible for testing, maintaining and repairing that equipment were scattered in numerous, cramped, reclaimed buildings across Stennis Space Center. The buildings were built for their previous tenants and, as a result, were not ideal for the work that the Navy was conducting within them.

"Two and a half years ago, our vision was to consolidate and house many of our office spaces in one area to increase our day-to-day efficiencies," said Capt. Jim Berdeguez, NAVOCEANO commanding officer. "But the building's practical, mission-specific features are even more beneficial than we anticipated."

OSB was built to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building System standards and can be certified to the bronze level. LEED is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. OSB builders incorporated numerous LEED features to maximize resource efficiency, such as drought-tolerant landscaping, a reflective white roof and motion sensors for all lighting.

NAVOCEANO reports to Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command and oversees both the Navy's Fleet Survey Team and Naval Ice Center.