British Antarctic Survey – Rothera Modernisation Virtual Site Visit

Overview

he Thames Valley Graduate, Student and Apprentice committee are travelling slightly further afield for our next virtual site visit… 11,000 km in fact!

The Discovery Building is a new world-class science and operations facility at Rothera Research Station in Antarctica. The Discovery Building is part of a major programme commissioned by UKRI-NERC to modernise the UK’s Antarctic Infrastructure in support of frontier science.

The Discovery Building is delivered by the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation partnership, which includes construction partner BAM and their team, design consultants Sweco and Hugh Broughton Architects providing delivery design. Ramboll is acting as British Antarctic Survey’s Technical Advisors, with architects NORR providing concept design and Turner & Townsend providing cost management.

This cutting-edge building with a unique design, will support science teams that undertake climate-related research at the UK’s largest Antarctic station.

Construction in Rothera can only occur during the austral summer (November to April) and robust thorough planning and logistics is critical when building in an isolated location 11,000 km from the UK. Using a number of digital and innovative solutions, BAM have successfully delivered two construction seasons, and are currently planning for the third season of in total 5 construction seasons.

The new building is expected to be completed by 2024.

Scott McLean will be giving us an insight into what it is like working (and living!) in one of the most remote parts of the world, providing a project overview and sharing some stories from site.