Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station
Using architecture to counteract and work with the forces of nature, the new Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station is designed with the profile borrowed from an airplane wing. Turned into the prevailing near-constant winds, the elevated station allows the winds to flow and accelerate above and below the station, thereby effectively scouring the area of snow that normally requires expensive and time-consuming manual excavation. However, because snow buildup around the station is inevitable, 36 uniquely-designed hydraulic jacking columns allow the 65,971 square-foot structure to be raised in 10-inch increments, thereby effectively adding decades to the life of the building. For more information on this project, refer also to our Case Studies and
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