NASA Glenn Research Center

The new Research Support Building at NASA Glenn Research Center, is the second phase of the Facility Master Plan multiyear effort to revitalize the central campus and renovate or replace WWII Era campus buildings. The new 60,000 SF building provides research office space for 160 permanent occupants as well as a full service kitchen and cafeteria, exchange store, ATM, training/conference rooms, and various social gathering and common areas. The RSB is designed with collaboration in mind, including multiple break out spaces throughout the building, low partition workstations, and specialized concurrent engineering rooms.

High voltage (2.4kV) power was extended to the building’s new primary transformer with future expansion of a second separate service of similar voltage incorporated into the design.  The electrical design also included space and system planning for the expansion of a future emergency generator.  Design included short circuit analysis, both interior and exterior lighting, occupancy and vacancy sensors, daylight harvesting, lightning protection and grounding, fire alarm/life safety, and security and access controls.

Direct buried pre-engineered high-pressure steam and condensate piping was extended to the building’s pressure reducing station and steam-to-hot water converters from the campus steam utility mains to serve as the building’s main source of heat.  Chilled water was also extended to the building from a campus main for comfort cooling.  Design included traditional variable volume air handling units and air terminal units, packaged dedicated outdoor air system for kitchen makeup air, kitchen hood exhaust and relief, dual-cool computer room air handling unit for the main data room, and radiant floor heating system for spaces with large glass exposures.

Design and construction of the building operations are focused to exceed modern day building energy performance requirements and is pursuing LEED certification.