Antarctica's Aging McMurdo Station is Getting a Major Overhaul

Antarctica's McMurdo Station is currently something of a small town, home to a sprawling complex of buildings. In the coming years, those old buildings will be demolished and built section by section into one new, massive facility, rendered here. (Credit: National Science Foundation) After more than 60 years, McMurdo Station, Antarctica’s main research center, is set to begin its first major infrastructure update. In February, the National Science Foundation got the green light to start construction on the so-called Antarctica Infrastructure Modernization for Science, or AIMS, project. As first reported by Antarctic Sun, the continent's NSF-funded newspaper, the project will consolidate the sprawling research station’s some 100 buildings into just six primary structures while increasing safety and improving energy efficiency. The goal of the 10-year project is to ensure long-term sustainability of the U.S. Antarctic Program’s ongoing research efforts. “Through AIMS, this historic site for scientific research will gain the capabilities that will allow it to continue in its role as a leading outpost for scientific endeavors,” Kelly Falkner, Director of NSF’s Office of Polar Programs, said in a statement.