Newport News Shipbuilding celebrated a construction milestone last week, topping out the new Submarine Manufacturing and Assembly Facility, or SMAF, with the final beam needed for assembly.

The move marked another step forward for submarine programs at NNS. The massive building will support Columbia– and Virginia-class construction with more than 53,000 square feet of production space. It accommodates a pair of 104-ton cranes. The production area is 125 feet tall and includes office space of nearly 20,000 square feet.

Karey Malyszko, NNS vice president of Plant Operations, said the SMAF is the result of a collaborative investment made by HII and the Navy to support submarine production, the first of several such investments.

“As shipbuilders, it is our mission to support the U.S. Navy and provide high-quality ships that protect our sailors,” she said. “This facility will help us meet this goal and deliver submarines unmatched in both strength and stealth.”

Addressing shipbuilders, she said, “Thank you for answering the call to build our nation’s nuclear-powered submarines. This work is not for the faint of heart. It takes innovation, courage and grit, plus impressive facilities like this one.”

She also thanked contractors W.M. Jordan Company, Schwob Building Company LTD and LPR Construction for their support.