Welcome to our first postcard from Rothera Research Station, giving you an update on progress as we modernise our largest station in Antarctica.
A new building, called the Discovery Building, is being constructed at Rothera (see architect’s visualisation above). It will provide a new scientific support and operations facility to maintain the British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) presence in Antarctica and continue delivering vital science in the region.
A small specialist team has been working throughout the Antarctic Winter (May to October) to continue working on completing the inside of the Discovery Building.
We’re working closely with our construction partner BAM and their sub-contractor, GA Barnies on the electrics, carpentry, boarding and decorating. Collaboration and planning are essential as we continue work on the interior and check our critical systems before the building is handed over to BAS in 2025.
Winter work in numbers
- Doors: 93 of 130 internal doors installed.
- Rooms: 31 rooms ready with ceiling hangars to install suspended ceilings next season.
- Detectors: 103 smoke and heat detectors fitted on ceilings. Testing begins when the GA Barnies summer team arrive on station.
- Skirting: complete on the first floor.
- Most importantly, all 3 tea points fitted. Meanwhile the team have been having their cuppas at ‘Smoko’ (refreshment break) in an older building nearby.
Other work milestones
- Wiring in thermostats and controls for ventilation.
- Panels in WCs ready for plumbing.
- Control Equipment electrical cabinets installed. They’ll be wired into the Building Management System: the Discovery Building’s smart way to control the building and monitor its energy efficiency.
- Cabinets have been fitted in the medical centre and the craft room.
Constructing a new building in Antarctica presents many challenges. The work is carried out during the lighter months of the Antarctic Summer (November to March). This year however, the construction team has been working alongside the station’s regular winter team for the first time.
Memorable winter moments
Katie Handford, Assistant Project Manager recalls, “Seeing the ship leave was definitely a scary yet iconic moment, filled with apprehension and excitement about what was to come”. A few of the wintering team let off the traditional flares whilst they waved goodbye to the summer team returning home on the polar research ship, RRS Sir David Attenborough.
Another highlight was seeing an Emperor penguin in August. Rothera doesn’t often receive visits from Emperor penguins and so there was a lot of excitement with keen photographers waiting from a distance for the Emperor to waddle past. Emperor penguin colonies are generally found further south.
The new summer season
The beginning of the Antarctic Summer season is marked with the first aircraft flights arriving at the station. In just a few weeks’ time, plumbers, ceiling/flooring installers, decorators and other trades will arrive to add the finishing touches to the Discovery Building, ready for the big move in April 2025.
The work is part of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP). This forms part of the British Government’s long-term investment in the Polar Regions. The programme is delivered in partnership with construction partners BAM, Ramboll, Sweco, GA Barnies and Hugh Broughton Architects.
