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Satnews Daily
October 13th, 2010

EUMETSAT... A True + Proper Grounding (Infrastructure)


[SatNews] The ground was broken on October 13th for EUMETSAT’s new infrastructure building (NIB).


Artistic impression of EUMETSAT's new infrastructure building.
Leading the ground-breaking ceremony were the EUMETSAT Director-General, Dr. Lars Prahm, and the Lord Mayor of Darmstadt, Mr. Walter Hoffmann. The primary use of the new infrastructure building is the accommodation of technical-operational installations to control EUMETSAT's satellite systems for weather, climate and environment monitoring. The ground floor and underground floor will host extensive mechanical installations required for an uninterruptable operation of such a high tech facility. The roof is designed for the installation of antenna systems for the reception of satellite data. Already at the start of the planning process, great attention was given to environmental aspects such as energy efficiency and the consideration and implementation of ecological and economic standards. The new German Energy Saving Regulation as well as the European Code of Conduct on Data Centres Energy Efficiency were considered an essential part of the planning process. The building shell is covered with a steel skeleton construction. The location of the new infrastructure building is south of the EUMETSAT headquarters facility and the two buildings will be linked by a tunnel. The land has been provided to EUMETSAT under an agreement between Germany and the State of Hessen.