WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has awarded a $33.8 million contract to Cleveland-based Austin Building and Design to construct a new aerospace communications research building at Cleveland’s Glenn Research Center.

The 54,000 square-foot building is scheduled for completion in 2021. It will consolidate research labs currently in seven different buildings on Glenn’s campus into a state-of-the-art facility that will house approximately 25 research and development laboratories specially designed and constructed for communication technologies, the agency said. In addition to laboratory spaces, the building and grounds will include a large, shielded high-bay space, as well as rooftop and ground-based antennae fields.

The project includes installation of a geothermal borehole field, new asphalt parking areas, exterior site work, landscaping, and the extension of underground utilities as required. The building is designed to achieve, at a minimum, a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating of Silver and comply with Life Safety and Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. The project will upgrade Glenn’s capabilities by installing higher frequency radio communications equipment.

“I am pleased to see that NASA has made this significant investment in NASA Glenn,” said a statement from Toledo Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, who announced the award Tuesday. "With it, Northern Ohio will continue to grow as an aerospace hub. It is an honor to represent the men and women serving our nation at NASA Glenn.”

Joel Kearns, who serves as Glenn’s director of facilities, test, and manufacturing, described the contract award as “a great Thanksgiving present" to all the engineers and scientists who will use the facility when it’s done. He said the existing facilities on Glenn’s campus are more than 30 years old and don’t have the technical capability to do the advanced radio research that NASA needs.

He said Glenn’s current facilities can produce radio frequencies in the 40 to 50 gigahertz range, and the new building will allow advanced radios that operate in the 110 to 120 gigahertz range. Higher gigahertz frequencies allow more data to be transmitted faster, said Kearns.

In addition to helping with NASA research, he said the new facility will help private businesses develop products, advanced communications systems and satellites.

“We will be able to do more advanced work,” said Kearns.

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