The National Weather Center is a building on the Research Campus of OU, South of main campus. It houses OU’s School of Meteorology, as well as a multitude of government organizations, making it a federal building. It was opened in 2006, after 3 years of construction. The fact that it is a federal building plays into the way the massive building was designed, as it featured bullet proof windows. There is also a room on the top floor, shaped like a circle, that is outfitted with huge windows all the way around the room. This is called the Observation Deck, and meteorologists in the building use it to view any weather on the horizon, or to just gaze at sunsets from the high up view. The weather center is also outfitted with a battleship style antenna on the very top to support the massive computers and data compilations needed by each weather organization within.

The National Weather Center is significant to me because meteorology is the reason I came to OU all the way from Columbus, Ohio. It always felt like such a big deal to be walking around with huge legends in the field, and taking classes where the Storm Prediction Center and the National Severe Storms Laboratory are housed. While I did end up finding a new passion and changing my major to Environmental Sustainability, I will never give up my love for the weather and my awe for this building. If you have not been yet I encourage you to check it out once it’s safe to return to campus- but don’t forget your OU ID or a government issued ID to get past security!