Hugh Broughton Architects and AECOM
have won an international competition for the design of a new Atmospheric Watch
Observatory at Summit Station in Greenland. The appointment is their third joint
triumph in the cold regions, firmly establishing both companies as world-class
leaders in the design of facilities for polar research. Previous project wins
include the 2007 competition-winning scheme for the Juan Carlos I Spanish
Antarctic Base and the design of Halley VI Research Station for the British
Antarctic Survey, which will be officially inaugurated next February. Located at the top of the
Greenland ice cap, at 72 degrees north, 3225m above sea level and nearly 400 km
from the nearest point of land, Summit Station is a
scientific research station sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foundation
under a permit with the Government of Greenland and operated by CH2M HILL Polar
Services. The station is the home of the Greenland Environmental
Observatory, which monitors key climate variables: snow levels rise by 700mm
per annum and temperatures drop to –60ºC in winter. The module is designed to provide year round state-of-the-art laboratory
facilities for atmospheric and snow chemistry research. The energy efficient,
aerodynamic design maximizes flexibility to suit the ever-changing needs of the
scientific research. Features include hydraulic legs to help the module climb
above the rising snow levels, highly insulated glass fiber cladding and
integrated photovoltaic arrays. All materials have to be scrutinized to ensure
no risk of pollution through off gassing of highly sensitive aerosol
experiments. The module could be prefabricated in the USA, shipped to Thule in
Greenland from where it would be hauled in sections 730 miles across the ice
cap to the station for assembly and commissioning.