NASA Sustainability Base

Earlier this week, NASA held a ceremonial groundbreaking and dedication event for what is expected to become the highest-performing building in the federal government.

The new, environmentally friendly building at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. is being named "Sustainability Base" in honor of the first humans to walk on the surface of another world from their Tranquility Base Apollo 11 lunar landing site 40 years ago.

It will serve as a highly efficient collaborative support facility providing workspace for a wide range of NASA's aeronautics and space exploration missions.

The new building is designed to achieve a platinum rating under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) new construction standards for environmentally sustainable construction developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The building will feature near zero net energy consumption, use 90 percent less potable water than conventionally built buildings of equivalent size and reduce building maintenance costs.

The building will showcase some of NASA's most advanced intelligent control technologies originally developed to support the nation's human and robotic space exploration missions.