BRITISH ANTARCTIC SURVEY ADVANCES SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION AT ANTARCTICA PROJECT

A new season of construction is underway in Antarctica for the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) as specialist teams arrive at Rothera, the UK’s largest research station and gateway for international science and collaboration.

The season’s focus is completing the Discovery Building, a new, purpose-built scientific support and operations facility that will support the Rothera research station. The construction teams arriving in Rothera will first clear the large amount of snow which has accumulated over the Antarctic winter. With periods of extreme cold that can reach minus 22 degrees Celsius, Rothera Research Station is the one of the world’s most extreme construction sites.

From November, they will be completing the inside of the Discovery Building and, externally, the wind deflector and the roof. This purpose-built facility will undergo testing of critical systems so that it is ready to hand over to BAS in April 2025.

The Discovery Building provides up to date operational facilities designed to support the evolving needs of scientific research at Rothera. The building management system will improve energy efficiency by monitoring and controlling heating, water, ventilation, lighting, and small power systems.

The project aims to minimise the Discovery Building’s long-term environmental impact. It is intended to reduce emissions by 25%. Construction and delivery partners include: BAM, Ramboll, Sweco, GA Barnies, Turner and Townsend, and Hugh Broughton Architects. iC

Antarctica is an extreme and challenging place to build

PHOTOS: BAM

Rothera Research Station, including the new Discovery Building