[ad_1]
2 December 2022 – The next phase of the British Antarctic Survey’s modernization program is scheduled to begin with a 6-month construction season at Rothera Research Station. The station is the UK’s largest Antarctic research and operations hub supporting leading researchers in frontier science in the region.
The Antarctic Infrastructure Modernization Program (AIMP) is part of a long-term government investment program to modernize its research facilities in the polar regions. It aims to provide polar science infrastructure to enable the UK to deliver cutting-edge climate, biodiversity and ocean research and innovation in Antarctica. Strong collaborative policies between AIMP partners British Antarctic Survey, BAM, Ramboll, Sweco and their extended supply chains are critical to success in delivering projects in the world’s harshest environments.
After last season’s successful completion of the outer skeleton for the new Discovery Building, this season is shaping up to be the busiest and most challenging since the program began in 2017. Among the main events of this season is the 4,500-m.2 New science and operations creating weather-proofing and airfield improvements.
Ahead of the main construction set, BAM’s team has begun clearing several hundred thousand tons of ice that accumulated over the Antarctic winter, setting the stage for the construction season ahead. The rest of the construction team arrives in December after a three-and-a-half-week journey to Antarctica in the RRS. Sir David Attenborough.
To ensure the thermal performance of the Discovery Building, the team will begin insulating and cladding, with internal works on glazing and mechanical, electrical and plumbing also underway. State-of-the-art building science balcony and control tower will also be installed.
The team will also embark on a runway resurfacing project, restoring Rothera’s 32-year-old runway to its original length. This will provide an additional runway threshold, providing more maneuvering room for the new BAS aircraft. Runway camber will be restored to increase surface drainage and eliminate potholes. New energy-efficient runway lighting will be installed, maintaining safe flight operations at Rothera, an important access point for field science operations.
David Seaton, Head of Construction at the British Antarctic Survey, notes: ‘This is the start of the most important construction season to date for the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernization Program as we upgrade our facilities in Antarctica to continue to deliver and support science. The most important region. The pre-deployment training and all other preparations have gone very well, the team is motivated and ready for the challenge and we look forward to a successful season by the end of which we will have a fully weathertight Discovery building, which will keep us on track. The handover of this fantastic new science and operations support asset in 2025, as well as the bulk of the upgraded runway resurfacing and lighting project, puts us in an excellent position to take delivery of our new aircraft in the near future.’
Robert Kerr, BAM’s site agent for AIMP, said: ‘The first boots are on the ground and it’s a great start to the new construction season. At Rothera there is such an emphasis on the delivery of work that it is easy to overlook the huge amount of planning and preparation work required by all partners. It’s great to see all that hard work pay off. This year’s construction team of 55 includes around 35-40 returnees, who will be key in delivering a very challenging program of work. Among the many objectives for the season, the cladding of the building will be a crucial point in the program, allowing us to transition from external to internal functions.
Snow clearing and site set up is well underway and we are all looking forward to delivering another successful season at Rothera.’
Bruce Wolff, Ramboll’s project director and framework manager for AIMP, says: ‘The coming construction season will be our most complex and ambitious yet. Planning for the Discovery Building and runway upgrade works has involved a large amount of work from all partners. Teams are now on site and are starting to clear snow to allow this season’s planned activities: cladding the building, constructing the runway control tower, starting interior works, replacing runway lighting and digging trenches on the runway for new duct routes. We wish the team on site every bit of luck as they prepare ahead for this exciting season!’
Read more about long-term AIMP. The program aims to put the UK at the forefront of climate, biodiversity and ocean research.
Contact details
About the British Antarctic Survey
The British Antarctic Survey (BAS), an organization of the Natural Environment Research Council (UKRI-NERC)*, delivers and enables world-leading interdisciplinary research in the polar regions. Its skilled science and support staff, based in Cambridge, Antarctica and the Arctic, work together to deliver research that uses the polar regions to advance our understanding of the Earth and our impact on it.
Through its extensive logistical capacity and know-how BAS facilitates access to UK polar research operations to the British and international science community. Numerous national and international collaborations, together with excellent infrastructure, help to maintain a world-leading position for the UK in Antarctic affairs. The UK is one of over thirty countries operating scientific research facilities in Antarctica. *NERC is part of UK Research and Innovation
More information: www.bas.ac.uk
About BAM Nuttall
Along with BAM Construct in the UK and BAM Contractors in Ireland, BAM Nuttall is part of the Royal BAM group. BAM provides exceptional engineering, design, construction, property management and investment services. The group has an annual turnover of £7 billion, listed on Euronext, Amsterdam. BAM Nuttall, employing approximately 3,000 people, has a worldwide reputation for collaborating with customers, creating sustainable environments that enhance people’s lives. Our projects span the UK and we are involved in international partnerships including Africa, Australia and Antarctica. Using state-of-the-art resources and digital technology to deliver innovative solutions, BAM people apply their knowledge across a range of sectors including rail, marine, tunnelling, highways, energy and water: www.bamnuttall.co.uk
About Ramball
Ramboll is a global architecture, engineering and consultancy company founded in Denmark in 1945. Our 17,000 experts create sustainable solutions in buildings, transport, energy, environment and health, water, management consulting and architecture and landscape.
Around the world, Rambol combines local experience with a global knowledge base to build sustainable cities and societies. We combine insights with the power to create positive change for our clients, in the form of ideas that can be realized and implemented. We call it: think bright. Sustainable change. Visit us at www.ramboll.com. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
About Sweco
Sweco plans and designs sustainable communities and cities of the future. With the collective knowledge of our clients and our 17,500 architects, engineers and other experts, we co-create solutions to address urbanisation, harness the power of digitalisation and make our societies more sustainable. Sweco is Europe’s leading engineering and architecture consultancy with sales of around SEK 21 billion (EUR 2 billion). The company is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. In the UK and Ireland, Sweco provides engineering, design and regulatory services. www.sweco.co.uk
About Hugh Broughton Architects
Hugh Broughton Architects was formed in 1996 and has a reputation for producing carefully crafted contemporary architecture. The practice is best known for the design of the Halley VI Antarctic Research Station, designed for the British Antarctic Survey with AECOM, which was officially launched in 2013 to much critical acclaim. In addition to the firm’s work on the Discovery Building as part of the British Antarctic Survey’s Antarctic Infrastructure Modernization Program partnership with BAM and Sweco, it has led to a series of other projects in Antarctica, including the Juan Carlos 1 Spanish Antarctic Base, which opened in 2017. 2019; the redevelopment of Scott Bays for Antarctica New Zealand, which the practice won in 2018 in partnership with Jasmax; and the Masterplan for Davies Station for the Australian Antarctic Division, which is being delivered with the WSP. www.hbarchitects.co.uk
About NORR
NORR is an employee-owned global architecture and engineering firm that has set the standard for inspired and timeless design around the world. With offices in Canada, US, UK and UAE, the firm employs over 700 professionals in 14 different market sectors. Founded in 1938, we offer the stability of a rich history, the strength of integrated global teams and the versatility of a proven, multi-sector portfolio. We are architects, engineers, planners, interior designers and big picture thinkers who use our integrated thinking to execute exceptional projects for our clients. More information is available at norr.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
About Turner and Townsend
Turner & Townsend is an independent professional services firm specializing in program management, project management, cost and commercial management, and advisory in the real estate, infrastructure and natural resources sectors. With 110 offices in 45 countries, it draws on extensive global and industry experience to manage risk while maximizing value and impact while building and managing clients’ assets. www.turnerandtownsend.com
About G&A Barney
G&A Barney was founded in Wick in 1985 by Alex and Gordon Barney. Since this time they have gained an enviable reputation for their expertise, high-quality personal service and completing contracts within specified time frames. They offer mechanical installation, electrical installation, renewable energy, fire and security, alarm, CCTV, water treatment and maintenance and servicing. They are a mechanical and electrical subcontractor for BAM on the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernization Program. www.gabarnie.co.uk
[ad_2]
Source link
