New BAS facility breaks ground03 February 2020
A new building to facilitate the British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) ongoing climate-related research in Antarctica broke ground at its largest facility, Rothera Research Station, on Thursday 30 January 2020.
The two-storey 4,500m2 building, named The Discovery Building to commemorate the discovery of Antarctica 200 years ago, will accommodate preparation areas for field expeditions, a central store, medical facility, offices, recreational spaces, workshops and areas for plant. It will be under construction until 2023, with all materials required to build the facility delivered by ship in containers and erected to a carefully managed programme.
The project is being delivered by the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Partnership, which includes construction partner BAM, design consultants Sweco and Hugh Broughton Architects, and Ramboll acting as BAS’s technical advisers, with their team NORR architects and Turner & Townsend.
Graham Hopper, project director of the BAM construction partnership, says: “It is a privilege for all those involved, and testament to the hard work of all the partnership team, to be breaking ground for this state-of-the-art building, on this significant anniversary for the continent. The team takes great pride in being able to support BAS in continuing its pioneering science research so we can better understand our planet.”
Situated on a rocky promontory at the southern extremity of Adelaide Island, Rothera Research Station has been occupied since 1975 and operates year-round. The new operations building is being delivered as part of The Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation (AIM) Programme to update and restore infrastructure at Rothera so that it remains cost effective and safe. A programme of renovation commenced in 2018 with the construction of a new enlarged wharf and improvements to station infrastructure.
Jon Ager, director of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme at BAS, adds: “This is an exciting milestone in a long-term plan to modernise Rothera Research Station. Once built, this new facility will enhance significantly our operational support to deep-field science campaigns.”
Adam Offord
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