Rothera air facility, Antarctic Circle

The strategic brief was to Project manage a new air facility in the remote, environmentally challenging location of the Antarctic Circle, whilst enabling normal operations to be continued.

This three-year project involved provision of a new laboratory, recompression chamber, aquarium, generators and accommodation block and amounted to £4.5 million. Interserve was engaged to provide Project management services.

Benefits and added value

• Project management from scope and specification through to full responsibility for delivery onsite. Project management team set-up to be completely self-sufficient onsite, minimising disruptions for client
• Demonstrated ability to operate in remote, challenging environment, including working in sub-zero temperatures
• Developed approach that enabled normal operations to be continued throughout, project managing the logistics to achieve operational continuity
• Built in sustainability improvements such as designing the new generator shed to enable heat to be reclaimed and used to heat the 48-bed accommodation block
• Innovative approach to solutions, for example designing insulation of buildings to enable heat to be turned off in winter, delivering ongoing energy cost savings
• Designed modular approach to solution, enabling quick erection and high quality delivery