Holt Watters Field Camp, Antarctica
The Antarctic Ecosystems Research Division of NOAA Fisheries conducts scientific research on the population dynamics, behavior, diet, and survival of Antarctic seabirds and pinnipeds on Livingston Island in Antarctica. After 20 years in the harsh Antarctic climate, their modest research facility fell into disrepair and required replacement.
Four new buildings were conceived to replace the deteriorating structures, allowed by Antarctic treaty guidelines to occupy no more than 2000 sq. ft. (186 m2), thus equaling the same footprint the old camp occupied. Three buildings comprise the main campus; the fourth, a remote penguin research facility, is a short one-mile hike away.
The remoteness of the field station, which is only accessible by zodiac, required a pre-fabricated, lightweight, highly insulated, and nearly maintenance-free building solution. One that could be pre-fabricated, offsite, and reassembled in less than two months during Antarctica’s austral summer. The flat-packed building components were required to be no larger than 1’x4’x16’ (30cm x 122cm x 488cm) to fit on zodiacs and light enough to be lifted by no more than four people.
The offset gable roof forms of the two main buildings take their shape to collect rainfall, the only source of water for the scientists. The long, thin building behind the two main structures acts as a wind fence, keeping snow from accumulating in the courtyard. The long building also houses the P.V. array, which provides the only source of power for the camp.
Functionally, the light-interfering color stainless steel cladding and stainless roofing help create a maintenance-free facade over a structurally insulated panel core fitted with triple pane windows. Water-resistant Meranti plywood clads the interior.
The impact of the new buildings will enable the continuation of NOAA Fisheries’ long-term science-based, ecosystem-based approaches to management in the Southern Ocean and bring essential data to the scientific community around the globe.
Timeline
Phase I of the project was designed and prefabricated by 22 University of Colorado Denver architecture students enrolled in our Masters of Architecture degree and two professors. The project was researched during the fall of 2021, designed from January 2022- March 2022, and prefabricated in Denver between April of 2022- May 2022. The buildings were disassembled in July 2022 and shipped to Antarctica in the fall. The buildings were reassembled in Antarctica by a team of 11 individuals (seven design-build alumni and one faculty member) during January of 2023. One faculty member remained in Denver during the reconstruction to teach the new group of students starting phase II.
Phase I Buildings
Living, Dining and Kitchen Building 650 sq. ft. (60 m2)
Bunkhouse and Sleep Quarters Building 440 sq. ft. (41 m2)
Phase II of the project was designed and prefabricated by 22 different University of Colorado Denver architecture students enrolled in our Masters of Architecture degree and two professors. The project was researched during the fall of 2022, designed from January 2023- March 2023, and prefabricated in Denver between April of 2023- May 2023. The buildings were disassembled in July 2023 and shipped to Antarctica in the fall. The buildings were reassembled in Antarctica by a team of 13 individuals (seven design-build alumni and two faculty members) during January of 2024.
Phase II Buildings
Laboratory, Workshop, and Bathroom Building 500 sq. ft. (46 m2)
Remote Penguin Research Facility 375 sq. ft. (35 m2)
Images and Plans
Technical Description
The Holt Watters Field Camp, located on Livingston Island in Antarctica, operates as a sustainable, off-grid, prefabricated research facility. The four buildings of the camp actively harvest 100% of their water from rain and snow melt, generate electricity through a 21-panel roof-mounted PV array, and manage mold, humidity, and air quality using heat recovery ventilators.
The building envelope features high R-value structurally insulated panels (SIP) and a permeable polyester air barrier WRB membrane, specifically designed for panelization and modular construction. The buildings follow a layout on a four-foot grid, minimizing waste in prefabrication and virtually eliminating construction waste in Antarctica.
Clad in resilient stainless steel with light interfering color (LIC) stainless steel, the building skin contains over 75% recycled content. Fixed on a rain screen, the panels can be easily removed, allowing scientists to run communications and utilities through the building at the start of each field season. The roof is sheathed in 314 marine-grade stainless steel to ensure the cleanest water harvesting.
Meranti plywood, a wood commonly used in boat building, comprise the interior walls, ceilings, and millwork. These elements are then finished with a proprietary blend of all-natural, FDA-approved, food-safe oils and waxes. The flooring is natural Marmoleum.
