West Virginia Regional Technology Park celebrates opening of Building 754, home to National Weather Service Local Forecast Office
In addition to NWS, the new 22,000-square-foot facility includes Science on a Sphere, an earth-systems science education display, and shell space for future tenant
South Charleston, W.Va. - The West Virginia Regional Technology Park (WVRTP) hosted a ribbon cutting celebration today for Building 754, a new 22,000 sq. ft. facility home to the National Weather Service (NWS) Local Forecast Office, an earth-systems science education display called Science on a Sphere (SOS) and second-floor shell space for a future tenant.
"We are excited to continue the National Weather Service's critical mission of providing Weather Warning, Forecast, and Information Services for the protection of lives and property from our new building here at the Technology Park,” said Jamie Bielinski, Meteorologist In Charge, NWS. “We look forward to future partnerships with the Tech Park through the Science on a Sphere and other outreach opportunities."
WVRTP was honored to have U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, representatives of U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper, South Charleston Mayor Frank Mullens, and other federal, state and local dignitaries in attendance for the ribbon cutting celebration.
“I’m thrilled to help celebrate the completion of Building 754 and the benefits it will lead to right here in West Virginia. The economic development and infrastructure investments happening at the Tech Park are exciting, and this building is the latest example. I am confident that NWS’s local operations will thrive in this new facility, and I look forward to the future growth opportunities that will develop from this partnership,” Senator Capito said.
“I’m thrilled the West Virginia Regional Technology Park is officially the new home of the National Weather Service Local Forecast Office, including the new Science on a Sphere exhibit,” said U.S. Senator Joe Manchin. “Improving our local weather forecasting is critical to our farmers, workers and West Virginians traveling across the state, which is why I included over $390 million in the Inflation Reduction Act for advances in research, weather prediction and forecasting. I look forward to visiting the new location soon and will continue to advocate for these important investments in science and technology programs across the Mountain State.”
"We have to give credit where it's due – to our U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito for securing NOAA's presence in Kanawha County. During disasters and inclement weather, it is important to have the NWS Local Forecast Office right here, close to our emergency personnel and first responders," said Kent Carper, President, Kanawha County Commission. "There are so many great things happening at WVRTP. Today's celebration is one of many successes we've experienced together."
The ribbon cutting event also celebrated the installation of WVRTP’s Science on a Sphere exhibit, a room-sized, global display system that projects visualizations of planetary data onto a six-foot diameter sphere to help illustrate Earth System science. WVRTP and its education partner, BridgeValley Community and Technical College, will offer sessions to educators and community organizations to promote STEM education and careers. To learn more, visit www.wvtechpark.com/sos.
“Building 754 is a testimony to the growth and opportunity happening at WVRTP,” said Dave Hendrickson, Chairman, WVRTP Board of Directors. “The Tech Park is dedicated to providing tenants, like NWS, with a robust infrastructure, resources and on-campus amenities that allow them to operate efficiently and effectively.”
An additional 9,000 sq. ft. of shell space and 1,000 sq. ft. of storage is available for a future WVRTP tenant. To learn more about Building 754 and available space at the Tech Park, visit www.wvtechpark.com.
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