Submarine Learning Center Stretches Out in Its New Digs

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Submarine Base (SuBase) New London's Building 137 began renovation in May after more than a year of planning, and was completed in November.

What from the outside looked like a major renovation was for the Submarine Learning Center (SLC) a major leap in production performance and capability, as Building 137 was slowly transformed. The renovation involved everything from the inside studs to the outside bricks.

Bill Kelly, a program analyst for the SLC, and project manager for the center’s relocation, said before the renovation, the building could not keep up with SuBase's needs.

“The biggest difference between our old and new building is space. We now have about 11,000 square feet, over twice what we once had," Kelly said. "We needed a bigger area to accommodate the size and scope of the staff. Our original building couldn’t support the staff and was always an interim solution. We had numerous satellite offices around SuBase to support operations, all the while planning to bring all the SLC staff under one roof."

Driving past Building 137 doesn’t reveal the extensive changes. As Kelly said, the surprise is inside.

“We had to accomplish partial renovation [down to the interior studs], which included asbestos and lead removal. We have three conference rooms, private senior leadership offices, security system [for SIPRnet access], an Operations Command Center, and a secure video-teleconferencing center," Kelly said.

Another successful partnership between Submarine Base and the SLC, the renovations will, said Kelly, pay dividends for the entire submarine training community.

“Because we housed people in various offices around the base, before you could start to plan changes or modifications in training curriculum, you first had to plan how to stage meetings to get all the players you needed in the same place at the same time," he said. "Now solutions are readily achieved by having everyone. Collaboration is much easier through collocation."

For related news, visit the Submarine Learning Center Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/slc/.