Sweco teams with BAM to modernise UK facilities in Antarctica
Sweco, a leading European engineering, environmental and design consultancy, has partnered with BAM, which has been appointed to the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) construction partner framework to provide design and construction services for the modernisation of research facilities in the Antarctic. The £100 million programme has been commissioned by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and will take place over the next 10 years. It will enable British Scientists to continue research into major issues facing the planet.
The Edinburgh office will lead the project, and Sweco’s multi-disciplinary expertise across the UK, along with its offices throughout Europe, will be utilised to deliver the various design elements.
The initial phase of the project will be the upgrading of the existing wharf at the BAS Rothera Research station on the Antarctic Peninsula to accommodate the RRS Sir David Attenborough research vessel.
Before work on the first stage of the project, which is due to start in October, Sweco experts travelled to the Antarctic in February 2017.
Allan Rogers, construction partnership director at BAM Nuttall, said, ‘We’re delighted to have Sweco engaged as our design partner for the BAS programme. In addition to their extensive multi-disciplinary skills and cold-climate experience, it is Sweco’s strong collaborative culture and commitment to explore new approaches that makes them such an appropriate partner for this commission. This extends the developing relationship between both organisations both in the UK and internationally.’
