From NASA to NORAD: What We Can Learn from the World’s Most Iconic Control Rooms

Axel Trujillo
Jul 9
4 min read

In the world of mission-critical operations, control rooms are more than just workspaces — they are the nerve centers of national defense, space exploration, and public safety. While technology has evolved dramatically over the decades, many of the foundational design principles from the world’s most iconic control rooms still hold true today.

At Sustema, we believe that understanding the past is key to designing the future. In this post, we explore two legendary control rooms — NASA’s Apollo Mission Control and NORAD’s Cheyenne Mountain Complex — and uncover the timeless lessons they offer for today’s 911 dispatch centers, air traffic control towers, and utility command centers.

Section 1: NASA’s Apollo Mission Control – The Birth of Operator-Centric Layouts

Located at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, NASA’s Apollo-era Mission Control Room (MOCR) was the command hub for the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969. It was a marvel of its time — a tiered, theater-style room filled with rows of consoles, each manned by specialists monitoring telemetry, propulsion, life support, and communications.

Design Lessons:

Clear Sightlines and Tiered Layouts: The room’s stadium-style seating ensured that every operator had a direct line of sight to the main data displays and the Flight Director. This layout promoted situational awareness and rapid communication — a principle still vital in modern control rooms.
Defined Roles by Console: Each station was purpose-built for a specific function, with dedicated controls and displays. This clarity of role and space is echoed in today’s dispatch centers, where zoning and layout support task specialization.
Redundancy and Fail-Safes: The Apollo control room was designed with multiple layers of backup systems — a reminder that resilience must be built into every layer of a control room, from power supply to data routing.

Section 2: NORAD’s Cheyenne Mountain – Designing for Resilience and Security

Buried under 2,000 feet of granite in Colorado Springs, the Cheyenne Mountain Complex was built during the Cold War to withstand a nuclear blast. It housed NORAD’s command center, responsible for aerospace warning and control for North America.

Design Lessons:

Infrastructure Redundancy: The facility was designed with independent power, water, and air systems — a model for today’s control rooms that must remain operational during blackouts, cyberattacks, or natural disasters.
Secure Cable Routing and Equipment Access: All cabling was routed through hardened conduits, and equipment was housed in secure, accessible enclosures. This mirrors our approach to lockable CPU enclosures, integrated electrical raceways, and under-surface power bars — all designed to protect critical systems while allowing for fast IT access.
Environmental Control: The facility maintained strict control over temperature, humidity, and air quality — a reminder that operator performance is directly tied to environmental comfort.

Section 3: The Human Factor – What These Rooms Got Right (and Wrong)

Both NASA’s Apollo Mission Control and NORAD’s Cheyenne Mountain Complex were designed with precision and purpose. But while they excelled in infrastructure and layout, they fell short in one critical area: operator comfort.

Operators in these legacy control rooms often sat for long hours in rigid chairs, under harsh lighting, with little regard for posture, fatigue, or long-term health. The focus was on the mission, not the human behind the console.

Today, we know better. Human factors are no longer an afterthought, they are central to performance, safety, and retention.

Modern Improvements:

Ergonomic Sit-Stand Consoles: Our consoles allow operators to alternate between sitting and standing throughout their shift, reducing fatigue and improving circulation.
Adjustable Monitor Arms and Sightlines: Operators can position screens at optimal viewing angles, reducing neck and eye strain and improving reaction time.
Task Lighting and Acoustic Control: Personalized lighting zones and sound-dampening materials help reduce sensory overload and support sustained focus.
Operator-Centric Layouts: We design workstations around reach zones, minimizing unnecessary movement and cognitive load.

These enhancements are especially critical in 911 dispatch centers, where operators must remain alert and responsive for hours at a time. By designing for the human factor, we help teams perform better — and feel better — every shift.

Section 4: The Evolution of Technology – From Analog Panels to Digital Dashboards

The control rooms of the past were built around analog systems: toggle switches, cathode-ray tube monitors, and hardwired communication lines. These tools were revolutionary at the time, but today’s control rooms demand far more — and so does the furniture that supports them.

Modern control rooms are digital ecosystems. Operators manage real-time data feeds, AI-enhanced dashboards, multi-screen displays, and cloud-based communications. The furniture must evolve to support this complexity — without compromising usability or maintenance.

How We Integrate Technology into Furniture:

Integrated Electrical Raceways: Built into the console walls, these raceways keep power and data cables organized, protected, and out of sight — reducing clutter and minimizing risk.
Retractable Monument Systems: These provide centralized access to power and data ports, then retract neatly into the console when not in use, keeping the surface clean and accessible.
Under-Worksurface Power Bars: Mounted discreetly beneath the console, these offer easy access for IT teams while keeping cords off the floor and out of the operator’s way.
Lockable CPU Enclosures: These protect sensitive hardware from tampering or accidental disconnection, while still allowing for quick access during maintenance or upgrades.
Hot-Swappable Components: Our consoles are designed for tool-free maintenance, allowing IT teams to replace or upgrade components without disrupting operations.

Whether you are managing a 911 dispatch center, an air traffic control tower, or a power grid command room, your technology is only as effective as the infrastructure that supports it. We build consoles that are ready for today’s tech — and tomorrow’s.

Design That Endures and Evolves

The control rooms of NASA and NORAD were built to serve some of the most demanding missions in history. Their layouts, infrastructure, and purpose-driven design continue to inspire us today. But as technology advances and the demands on operators grow, control room design must evolve. It must support not only the tools of the future but also the people who rely on them every day.

At Sustema, we believe that great design is timeless. It is built on proven principles but shaped by the needs of modern operators. That means creating spaces that are ergonomic, adaptable, and ready for the next generation of technology.

If you are planning a new control room or upgrading an existing one and want to learn how ergonomic design can improve performance, safety, and operator well-being, we are here to help.