NASA began construction on a new headquarters building at Kennedy Space Center Tuesday.
The new building is seven-stories tall and 200,000 square feet.
The building will house administrative and operational departments and will replace some of the existing facilities built in the 1960s.
The groundbreaking comes at a time where NASA is refocusing on space flight and exploration through partnerships with private companies.
Last month Both SpaceX and Boeing were awarded contracts to transport crew to the International Space Station and will operate from the space center.
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Renderings of Kennedy Space Center HQ, HuntonBrady Architects.[/caption]
NASA says the building satisfies their commitment to environmental sustainability. The building utilizes a green cooling system, solar panels, and other sustainable materials.
The Orlando based architecture firm that designed the building, HuntonBrady, expects about two years for construction.