NASA Glenn Building New Aerospace Communications Facility

CLEVELAND — Crews broke ground on a nearly $34-million communications facility project at NASA Glenn on Wednesday. The new complex will give scientists additional tools to develop advanced radio technology for space exploration.

The Aerospace Communications Facility (ACF) will be constructed by The Austin Company, a Cleveland-based developer. Construction is expected to be completed by next winter, with full occupancy by fall 2022.

The 54,000 square foot facility will become NASA's primary space for radio frequency communications technology research and development. The hope is the facility will contribute technology to aid future missions to the Moon or Mars. Technology developed in the complex could also aid self-flying planes and other urban air technology, NASA officials said.

"NASA Glenn continues to develop advanced radio frequency technology, enabling NASA's aeronautics, science and human exploration missions," said Joel Kearns, Glenn's director of Facilities, Test and Manufacturing. "The ACF positions us to further advance communication technology needed to meet the nation's space exploration and aviation goals, as well as enable commercial and defense communications."

The ACF will be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified, officials said. The facility is part of a string of improvements at NASA Glenn. The Mission Integration Center opened in 2014 and a new Research Support Building is slated to open later in 2020.

Renderings of the ACF can be seen online.