Comments on: NOAA’s New Environmental Prediction Center

By: Roger Schwabacher

Roger Schwabacher — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:39:58 +0000

I am the project architect for this building, and have been working on it for the past 4 years.

To respond to a few of the comments:
- it is not a false green; it will be rated LEED silver
- it is within 1/2 mile of the metro, and we have provided a continuous pedestrian path from the metro to the site (including a nature trail through the woods to the north). We also provide bike racks, showers & locker rooms for those who wish to bike to work; preferred parking for hybrid vehicles and carpool vehicles.
- NOAA wanted this site, since they will work together with scientists from the University of Maryland
- entire 10-acre site is for pedestrians, not the vehicle. Cars are mostly limited to the garage at the site’s entrance

By: DC Metrocentric » Bill Hellmuth of HOK Profile

DC Metrocentric » Bill Hellmuth of HOK Profile — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:46:48 +0000

[…] article plays up the green angle of HOK and their newest building now under construction, the NOAA Center for Climate and Weather Prediction, which you know how we feel […]

By: DC Metrocentric » Weather Finds a New Home

DC Metrocentric » Weather Finds a New Home — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:46:18 +0000

[…] Environmental Prediction not being transit friendly were well founded. The one thing left out of the rendering we showed you a while back is the huge parking lot pictured below. The actual building is coming along nicely though, […]

By: sensuous thunderbolt

sensuous thunderbolt — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:53:49 +0000

You’re right. It does need a nickname. The Sensuous Thunderbolt.

By: Lindemann

Lindemann — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:16:41 +0000

I work in the building that sits opposite a parking lot (not shown in the drawing!) from the NOAA building. It’ll be about a 20-minute walk from the College Park Metro. They need to build a pedestrian path from River Road to the NOAA building, which I have not seen being developed, if they want anyone to use Metro. There’s a shuttle bus that currently runs to my building and two other buildings, but I don’t know if NOAA is going to pony up the dough to be on the shuttle bus route as well.

It’s really a waste of at least marginally accessible space, and ironic that the Environmental Prediction Center greatly privileges the emission of carbon as the best way to approach it.

By: David Alpert

David Alpert — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:55:55 +0000

I have to agree with Wills. If this is near other buildings in a walkable area, why does the drawing show absolutely nothing else around, and no way to get in and out except in a very auto-centric driveway loop? It looks like this architect never considered the possibility of doing anything other than driving to this building.

By: sam

sam — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:57:02 +0000

Well there is something to be said for the synergies of being near a university and I don’t think you would be able to find a large enough space inside a prebuilt building inside the District either. I do think that this is right by a metro station though and those are green roofs for sure in the rendering. I guess what I am saying is I like this development, it looks good and is in a good location.

By: Wills

Wills — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:08:26 +0000

I love the design and green elements of this building, but is this a false green?
(I realize the post didn’t state that this was a LEED building, but I don’t think I’d be wrong in assuming that it is.)

Given that this requires a complete new construction and will be in the suburbs (read: lack of density, greater car dependency) won’t this building cause more enviro-harm than good?

Why couldn’t NOAA repurpose a building inside District boundaries?

If there’s a technical, legitimate need for a completely new structure that’s rather removed, then I’ll desist. I just think we’re often too quick to praise.