The UK has reached a major milestone in its long-term commitment to polar science with the opening of a new Antarctic research hub, reinforcing its global scientific standing. The £100 million Discovery Building at Rothera Research Station has been officially opened by Jane Francis, Director of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).
The Discovery Building is the largest and most complex UK construction project ever completed in Antarctica. It replaces ageing facilities and brings together critical station operations under one roof, significantly improving safety, efficiency and resilience in one of the world’s harshest environments. Spanning 4,500 square metres across two floors, the building houses power generation, water and waste systems, communications, laboratories, workshops, storage, logistics areas and an operations tower for planning and supporting fieldwork.
By consolidating services that were previously spread across multiple structures, the new hub allows scientists and support teams to work more effectively while reducing operational risks. This modern infrastructure strengthens the UK’s ability to deliver high-quality science year-round and supports research into climate change, ice sheet dynamics, sea level rise, biodiversity and ocean systems. Crucially, it demonstrates the UK’s position as a world leader in polar research.
The project was commissioned by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), part of UK Research and Innovation, and delivered on time and within budget. It forms a central part of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme, a wider investment designed to secure the UK’s scientific capability in Antarctica for decades to come.
Alongside assets such as the polar research vessel RRS Sir David Attenborough, the Discovery Building ensures the UK remains at the forefront of international efforts to understand environmental change and its global impacts, delivering long-term benefits for science, policy and climate resilience worldwide.
