A six month construction season is set to begin at the United Kingdom’s largest Antarctic research and operations hub. Called the Rothera Research Station, it supports leading researchers in frontier science in the region. 

This marks the start of the next phase of the British Antarctic Survey’s Antarctic Infrastructure Modernization Program (AIMP), which is part of the UK’s long-term plan to modernize its research facilities in the poles. Through a collaboration with construction services company BAM, engineering and design company Ramboll, and architecture firm Sweco, the project aims to provide polar science infrastructure that will enable the UK to deliver climate, biodiversity and ocean research, and innovation to Antarctica. 

According to BAM, this season is expected to be the busiest and most challenging since the program began in 2017. This is especially pertinent given the small window that construction can take place in the region in order to avoid its harsh and dark winter. The last construction season saw the completion of the external skeleton for the new, 48,438-square-foot Discovery Building, which hosts preparation areas for field expeditions, offices, a medical center, recreational spaces, and science workshops.

Work this season includes making the Discovery Building building weather resistant and executing airfield improvements. 

BAM’s team arrived before the main construction team and has begun clearing several hundred thousand tons of snow that has accumulated over the winter. The remaining team arrives this month. 

“This is the start of the most important construction season yet for the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernization Program as we upgrade our facilities in Antarctica to enable the continuation of science delivery and support in this most vital region,” said David Seaton, Head of Construction at the British Antarctic Survey. 

“The pre-deployment training and all other preparation have gone extremely well, the team is motivated and up for the challenge and we look forward to a successful season by the end of which we will have a fully weathertight Discovery Building, keeping us on track for the handover of this wonderful new Science and Operations support asset in 2025, and also have delivered much of the upgraded runway resurfacing and lighting project, putting us in an excellent position to take delivery of our new aircraft in the near future,” he added.