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Norfolk Naval Shipyard breaks ground for $64.7 million facility

The building will consolidate training currently spread across 26 different locations and eight departments into a single 157,000 square-foot facility.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth broke ground Monday for a new $64.7 million training facility.

The multi-story, multifaceted Production Training Facility marks the biggest step yet in the realization of the Naval Sea Systems Command's (NAVSEA) Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Plan (SIOP).  

Credit: 13News Now

Two years from now, a new building will consolidate training spaces from across 26 different shipyard locations, to a single 157,000 square-foot facility.

That'll make it, so sailors and civilians can develop their skills more efficiently.

"It's a great investment for skills in this area. It's also a great construction 64 million dollars will be spent right here in Hampton Roads. So, a lot of people will get jobs and that's great for the economy,” said Representative Bobby Scott.

When it's all done, this new training center will stand three stories tall.

It'll have training areas, academic classrooms, and spaces for hands-on learning. 

Norfolk Naval Shipyard Commander, Captain Kai Torkelson said he predicts the building will last more than 100 years.

"It is a complete and utter joy to interact with the people that are doing this work,” said Torkelson.

Constructed by R-Q Construction, it's designed so that it can be upgraded as needed to serve the demands of the Navy and more-so the shipyard workers.

He said, "it's unimaginable what they'll see through their careers."

Torkelson said the lessons learned here, will help serve several classes of aircraft carriers and submarines, including the Ford, Virginia and Columbia class vessels.

It's a role that's essential for military success…that's already months ahead of schedule. 

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