Antarctic construction season underway at Rothera Research Station

Three projects will be undertaken in parallel during the construction window from March to October, including resurfacing Rothera’s wharf, the UK’s most southerly wharf, allowing it to withstand Antarctic conditions while remaining safe and reliable.

Groundwork will be laid to renovate Rothera’s hangar in a bid to reduce disruption to construction and air operations in future seasons. A new access road will be built and runway lighting infrastructure will be relocated.

Teams in Cambridge are working on the transition to renewable energy alongside the station’s staff, technical specialists and project partners.

Rothera’s Discovery Building, a two-storey, 4,500-sq-m research support facility, was completed in 2025 and is the UK’s largest ever construction project undertaken in Antarctica.

Facility staff will continue working at the Discovery Building, finishing roof works, internal decoration and mechanical and electrical systems. Engineering work includes installing heat capture methods, ventilation and door mechanisms.

The projects represent a £670m investment from the UK government and were commissioned by the Natural Environment Research Council.

Going forward, the BAS plans to install building-mounted photovoltaic solar panels, a battery energy storage system and a smart grid. Buildings will also be reclad.

BAS programme director Elen Jones said: “We’re continuing to invest in the infrastructure Antarctica needs to support world-leading science and resilient operations in a more sustainable way”.

Jerry Gillham, Rothera’s winter station leader, said: “The new Discovery Building brings us together more for sharing ideas and coming up with solutions. A warm workspace with modern amenities makes a real difference to morale and wellbeing. We feel more like one unit, able to work together on projects and exchange skills in ways we couldn’t before.”

More about working in the Antarctic: