# Housing and Warehouse Facilities at McMurdo Station Antarctica

## November 2003

# Introduction

This report responds to a request contained in the House Committee on
Appropriations' Report 107-740, accompanying the FY 2003 Appropriations
Bill for Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and
Independent Agencies:

...the Committee is aware of the pressing need to provide both upgraded
living facilities and adequate, indoor storage facilities at NSF's
McMurdo Station in Antarctica. In this regard, the Committee requests
that the OPP prepare and deliver to the Committee at the earliest date
possible a report outlining the work that needs to be performed to
upgrade these facilities as well as the estimated short- and long-term
costs involved with such upgrades. The report should detail whether such
facilities would be new construction or retrofits or upgrades to
existing facilities. Upon completion and delivery of such report, OPP
may utilize available resources provided herein to begin planning,
design, pre-construction and/or construction activities related to such
necessary upgrades.

# Background

The general area of McMurdo Station, at a latitude of 77° 1\' South and
longitude of 166° 0\' East, was first visited by James Clark Ross, a
British explorer, in 1841. Ross Island, where McMurdo is located, is
named for this early explorer even though he did not make landfall on
the island. The station is named in honor of Archibald McMurdo, a
lieutenant on the *HMS Terror*, one of the two ships used in Ross's
Antarctic expedition. The next visitors to this area, and the first to
land on Ross Island, were members of Scott's Discovery Expedition in
January 1902. The island was next seen by Shackleton's British Antarctic
Expedition in 1908 and by Scott again in 1911. Shackleton's
Endurance-Aurora Expedition used Ross Island as a staging area for the
British Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition in 1914.

McMurdo Station, originally named Naval Air Facility McMurdo, was
established in December 1955 in preparation for the extensive scientific
activities of the International Geophysical Year (IGY). Over the past 47
years, the station has grown from the original 30 buildings to the
present community of over 90 buildings with utilities, about 12 million
gallons of fuels storage, communications and infrastructure to support
year-round presence with populations reaching 1,200 people in the summer
season. McMurdo Station is the logistics hub for the National Science
Foundation's (NSF) United States Antarctic Program (USAP). The station
supports six months of intra- and inter-continental aircraft operations
and annual resupply of fuel and supplies by a tanker and a cargo vessel.

In 1972, the White House transferred responsibility for managing and
funding the U.S. Antarctic Program, including the infrastructure at the
three Antarctic stations (McMurdo, Amundsen-Scott South Pole, and
Palmer) and Christchurch, New Zealand, from the U.S. Navy to the NSF.
Since the 1970's, the size and scope of the science programs has
increased dramatically. The Office of Polar Programs (OPP), the office
to which NSF delegated responsibility for the USAP, has replaced or
upgraded many facilities but is still faced with legacy structures, many
dating back to the 1960's. OPP prepared long-range development plans for
McMurdo Station in 1979 and 1995 and is currently completing an update
of the 1995 plan. The 1979 plan focused on consolidating functions,
making improvements to science facilities, and establishing city-zoning
areas for future growth. The 1979 plan provided the vision for
development of McMurdo Station from a 1950's and 1960's temporary
logistics camp to a science-based campus environment. Because of growth
in the USAP program, changing operational requirements, and a strong
awareness for the need to prioritize future construction projects, a new
*Long Range Development Plan* was prepared in 1995. The 1995 plan
focused on consolidating functions, replacing inefficient buildings,
improving functionality, and reducing the overall "foot print" of the
station. In many ways the 1995 plan was more of a facilities replacement
plan than a city development plan. The priorities established in this
plan served as the blueprint for improving the USAP infrastructure and
services to scientists.

Both plans were used to guide and prioritize facility and utility
infrastructure development. During the 1980's and early 1990's, NSF
implemented many of the improvements outlined in the 1979 plan: 11 new
dormitories, a new heavy vehicle maintenance facility, and the Crary
Science and Engineering Center were all constructed during this time
period. Of the top 10 priority projects identified in the 1995 plan,
four have been completed: the mechanical equipment center was replaced;
food preparation facilities and the dining room were remodeled; bulk
fuel tanks were replaced; and three dormitory buildings were remodeled.
In addition, three major projects not identified when the plan was
developed have also been completed or are under construction: the Waste
Water Treatment Facility, which went into operation in February 2003,
was funded to prevent adverse impacts to the McMurdo area environment;
HF radio transmitter site and the Joint Space Operations Center were
required to facilitate communications and IT upgrades.

Even with these substantial investments in facility infrastructure over
the last 23 years, the average age of the 92 buildings at McMurdo
Station exceeds 20 years. The power plant is reaching the end of its
useful life. Safety issues have been identified in shop facilities and
the medical clinic. Many residents live in inadequate housing.
Warehousing functions are spread around the station in more than 25
buildings. The energy efficiency of most buildings needs significant
improvement. Immediate plans on housing and warehousing include:

-   Constructing two 100-person, single-room housing buildings;

-   Renovating two existing buildings to create additional single rooms;
    and

-   Constructing two new buildings -- unheated and heated \-- thus
    consolidating warehousing. These buildings would replace space used
    currently in more than 25 different locations.

# 

# Next-Generation Plan

In November 2001, NSF selected Daniel, Mann, Johnson, & Mendenhall
(DMJM), a noted architectural firm, to update and expand the 1995 plan.
The firm was tasked to assess the current status and priority of
facility requirements identified in the 1995 plan, to evaluate the
station as a whole, and to develop a comprehensive document that will
guide investment decisions at McMurdo Station for the next five to 10
years. A copy of the McMurdo Station Long-Range Development Plan,
completed in June 2003, is attached for reference. A separate copy of
the Plan's Summary is also included separately. The Priority-One
Projects could be implemented in six years at a cost of \$62.6 million,
taking USAP logistical constraints into account. [Table 1](#T1)
summarizes the annual implementation cost in FY03 dollars.

It is important to recognize that these plans are continually updated,
often due to natural events that cause the USAP to reconsider current
operations and way of doing business. For example, the 8-million gallon
fuel storage was not in the 1995 plan as one of the high priority
projects, but was added in the past year. The difficult ice conditions
in the McMurdo Sound area and the concomitant difficulties getting fuel
delivered to McMurdo made it clear that the capability to store enough
fuel to sustain the stations in McMurdo and the South Pole for two
years, rather than one, was a high, if not critical, priority.

NSF's current top priority is upgrading the power plant. In addition to
being obsolete, the power plant has been identified as the most critical
single point failure risk to the USAP. In view of the threat to safety
that loss of electricity and heating would pose, FY 2003 funds have
already been invested to initiate this project.

The Subcommittee has highlighted the need for improved housing and
warehouse facilities, and the new NSF/OPP Long Range Plan assigns high
priority to both, as is discussed below.

####### Housing 

As noted in the Background, McMurdo Station is the gateway to the South
Pole and many Antarctic field camps. It also hosts a broad range of
scientific activity, much of it facilitated by the state-of-the-art
Crary Laboratory. Grantees from 75 U.S. universities and research
institutions, staff from several Government agencies and employees of
various support companies, including the following, are housed for
periods varying from one day to over one year.

+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| -   75 U.S. universities or       | -   U. S. Coast Guard            |
|     laboratories                  |                                  |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| -   National Science Foundation   | -   Raytheon Polar Services      |
|                                   |     Company                      |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| -   NOAA                          | -   Petroleum Helicopters, Inc.  |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| -   USGS                          | -   Space Mark, Inc.             |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| -   DOE                           | -   New Zealand Defense          |
|                                   |     Personnel                    |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| -   Smithsonian                   | -   Ken Borek Air                |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| -   Collaborating International   | -   NANA Services                |
|     Scientists                    |                                  |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| -   New York Air National Guard   | -   Royal New Zealand Air Force  |
|     (109^th^)                     |                                  |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| -   DOD Support Personnel         |                                  |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+

The age and condition of housing at McMurdo varies from new construction
to newly remodeled to just functional. There are currently 585 rooms in
16 buildings with a total bed capacity of 1,300 ([Table 2](#T2)). Except
for one bunkroom with 28 beds, the number of beds per room varies from 1
to 4. The greater majority of rooms are designated as double occupancy.
As noted in [Table 3](#T3), until additional housing is made available,
NSF has established a standard of no more than two persons per room,
except for transient personnel who are housed in up to 4 persons per
room or in the 28-person bunkroom. During periods of peak activity (late
October, early November, January and February), however, personnel
needing housing for less than 30 days may be housed 3 or 4 to a room.
With the exception of housing for the 109^th^ there are only 25
designated single rooms in the current housing inventory. The 109^th^'s
housing allocation of 93 rooms for 113 staff provides 73 single
occupancy rooms and is required to meet DOD flight crew rest criteria
(the balance of 109^th^ personnel, approximately 40 people, are housed
two persons per room). [Table 4](#T4) summarizes McMurdo Station
population by week for the last three summer seasons. It should be noted
that even with careful planning, restricted activities, and limited
visitors, the NSF's stated occupancy standards of a maximum of two
people per room is exceeded for over 30% of the summer season weeks

During the winter season, March to August, adequate housing exists to
assign single occupancy to all winter over staff. This is a great morale
benefit during the long winter months of isolation. A desirable goal is
to achieve single rooms for 40% of the summer population by 2008. This
goal will greatly improve the quality of life on station and will
enhance the recruitment and retention of high quality support staff.
Successful support of scientific research is highly dependent on
retaining qualified staff to support science, IT, station operations,
air traffic control, and many other areas of specialized support. This
single occupancy goal, however, is still far below housing standard for
private industry at remote locations (e.g., in Alaska and at off-shore
drilling platforms). NSF intends to continuously re-evaluate its ability
to provide higher percentages of single rooms to USAP participants.

Excessive occupancy per room significantly reduces workforce efficiency
and quality of life, but several other factors are also important.
Bathroom location is the second most important consideration. Buildings
206, 207, 208, and 209 are the only housing spaces with semi-private
bathrooms; two two-person bedrooms share one bathroom. All other housing
buildings have one or more centrally located community bathrooms. Each
housing building has one or more lounges, and most have laundry
facilities. All housing spaces are non-smoking, but three buildings have
smoking lounges. Assignment or selection of roommates is also a strong
quality of life consideration for most individuals. Factors such as
nonsmoker/smoker, night/day shift, duration of deployment, age,
compatibility with roommates, job assignment, and social habits also
have a major impact on the quality of life in shared spaces.

Another housing consideration is building location. Two of the lowest
quality housing facilities (buildings 166 and 188) and NSF housing
(building 125 and 137) are located in areas designated in the McMurdo
Long Range Development Plan (MLRDP) as light industrial/science support.
As shown in Executive Summary of the MLRDP buildings 125, 137 and 188
will be removed and building 166 will be remodeled for science and
science support offices. The MLRDP also identifies the first floor of
building 155 (19 bedrooms/71 beds) as the future location for the
McMurdo Station Medical Clinic. Upgrading and relocating the Medical
Clinic is a high priority. Implementation of these science, science
support and medical upgrades will first require construction of 194 new
housing spaces to maintain the current population capacity of the
station.

In December 2001, OPP evaluated various housing configurations for
applicability at McMurdo Station. Knowing that the current double
occupancy standard impacts the USAP's ability to recruit and retain
highly qualified participants and that the standards for private sector
camps in remote locations is single occupancy with shared bathrooms, NSF
is planning that future housing facilities should be designed for single
occupancy, but configured with centralized bathroom facilities. This
will help minimize cost both in construction and future maintenance.

The highest priority housing related project in the MLRDP is
constructing two 100-person, single-room housing buildings at an
estimated cost of \$8 million. With the completion of these two new
housing buildings approximately 30% of the station population of 1,200
will have single rooms. Other activities that will help meet the single
occupancy goal are:

1.  Demolish Building 188, and replace with 42 new single bedrooms.

2.  Convert the first floor housing in Building 155 to the station
    Medical Clinic and construct 71 new single bedrooms.

To meet the 40% single occupancy goal, an additional 100-person housing
building will be needed.

# Warehousing 

Warehousing at McMurdo Station can be grouped into four functional
categories: heated, unheated, food storage, and specialty items.
Existing locations and square footage for each category are listed in
[Table 5](#T5). In addition to the warehousing, there is approximately
20,000 square feet of open storage for bulk and crated materials.
Multiple storage locations and open storage results in poor materials
control, inefficient operations, damaged and lost materials, and
excessive labor to dig out and repackage materials buried in the snow.
The MLRDP recommends consolidating all non-specialty warehousing
functions, both enclosed and open, in three facilities: Consolidated
Heated Central Warehouse, Consolidated Unheated Central Warehouse and
Consolidated Food Storage Warehouse.

The MLRDP lists both the heated and unheated consolidated warehouses as
immediate requirements. Because of the amount of lost and damaged
materials and the labor to clear snow and repackage materials each year,
the unheated warehouse is considered a higher priority. It is envisioned
to be a 40,000 square foot building with high density racking and
shelving systems that is approximately three times more efficient and
the current unheated warehouses and open storage areas. The estimated
cost is \$5.0 million. The heated central warehouse is envisioned to be
a 30,000 square foot building, again with high volume racking and
shelving systems, and is estimated to cost \$7.1 million. The
consolidated food storage warehouse is a priority 2 project and
estimated to cost \$4.7 million.

[]{#T1 .anchor}Table 1. Annual Cost Schedule for Priority 1 Projects \--
assuming logistics, rather than funding constrain schedule

##### Labor, Logistics and Equipment Limited

> *(Millions of Dollars)*

  -------------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------------
                                                                                                     

  **Project**                      **FY04**   **FY05**   **FY06**   **FY07**   **FY08**   **FY09**   **Estimate**

  **Power & Water Plant Upgrade**  6.0        1.2        2.0        0.4                              9.6

  **Mogas Tank & Fueling Station** 1.4        0.4                                                    1.8

  **Expand Waste Heat Loop**       0.1        1.4        0.4        0.1                              2.0

  **Trades Shop**                  0.7        4.1        1.0        1.0                              6.8

  **Consolidated Unheated Central  4.6        0.4                                                    5.0
  Warehouse**                                                                                        

  **Two Housing Units (200 single  0.5        2.5        0.5        1.0        0.5                   8.0
  rooms)**                                                                                           

  **Science & Facilities Carpentry 0.4        2.0        0.3        1.2                              3.9
  Shop**                                                                                             

  **Utility System Upgrade**       1.1        1.0        1.0        0.3        0.1                   3.5

  **Phase II Science Support                  0.2        2.8        1.4        0.3                   4.7
  Center**                                                                                           

  **Consolidated Heated Central                          0.7        4.0        2.1        0.3        7.1
  Warehouse**                                                                                        

  **Medical Upgrade**                                    0.1        2.4        1.5        0.2        4.2

  **8 M Gallon Fuel Storage**      2.5        3.0        0.5                                         6.0

  **Annual Budget**                17.3       16.2       12.3       11.8       4.5        0.5        62.6
  -------------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------------

[]{#T2 .anchor}Table 2. McMurdo Station Housing Summary

+---+---------------+---+-------------+------------+--------------------+
|   | **Building    |   | **Number of | **Number   | **Date of          |
|   | Number**      |   | Rooms**     | of Beds**  | Construction**     |
+---+---------------+---+-------------+------------+--------------------+
|   |               |   |             |            |                    |
+---+---------------+---+-------------+------------+--------------------+
| 1 | 201           |   | 27          | 54         | 1979               |
+---+---------------+---+-------------+------------+--------------------+
| 2 | 202           |   | 27          | 54         | 1979               |
+---+---------------+---+-------------+------------+--------------------+
| 3 | 203A          |   | 27          | 54         | 1980               |
+---+---------------+---+-------------+------------+--------------------+
| 4 | 203B          |   | 25          | 50         | 1980               |
+---+---------------+---+-------------+------------+--------------------+
| 5 | 203C          |   | 27          | 54         | 1980               |
+---+---------------+---+-------------+------------+--------------------+
| 6 | 206           |   | 66          | 132        | 1986               |
+---+---------------+---+-------------+------------+--------------------+
| 7 | 207           |   | 64          | 128        | 1987               |
+---+---------------+---+-------------+------------+--------------------+
| 8 | 208           |   | 64          | 128        | 1988               |
+---+---------------+---+-------------+------------+--------------------+
| 9 | 209           |   | 64          | 128        | 1989               |
+---+---------------+---+-------------+------------+--------------------+
| 1 | 210           |   | 35          | 70         | 1994               |
| 0 |               |   |             |            |                    |
+---+---------------+---+-------------+------------+--------------------+
| 1 | 211           |   | 39          | 78         | 1994               |
| 1 |               |   |             |            |                    |
+---+---------------+---+-------------+------------+--------------------+
| 1 | 188           |   | 21          | 42         | 1976               |
| 2 |               |   |             |            |                    |
+---+---------------+---+-------------+------------+--------------------+
| 1 | 166           |   | 21          | 42         | 1968               |
| 3 |               |   |             |            |                    |
+---+---------------+---+-------------+------------+--------------------+
| 1 | 166           |   | 1           | 28         | 1968               |
| 3 | (Bunkroom)    |   |             |            |                    |
| a |               |   |             |            |                    |
+---+---------------+---+-------------+------------+--------------------+
| 1 | 155 1st Floor |   | 19          | 71         | 1969               |
| 4 |               |   |             |            |                    |
+---+---------------+---+-------------+------------+--------------------+
| 1 | 155, 2nd      |   | 47          | 176        | 1969               |
| 4 | floor         |   |             |            |                    |
| a |               |   |             |            |                    |
+---+---------------+---+-------------+------------+--------------------+
| 1 | 125           |   | 6           | 6          | 1963               |
| 5 |               |   |             |            |                    |
+---+---------------+---+-------------+------------+--------------------+
| 1 | 137           |   | 5           | 5          | 1967               |
| 6 |               |   |             |            |                    |
+---+---------------+---+-------------+------------+--------------------+
|   |               |   |             |            |                    |
+---+---------------+---+-------------+------------+--------------------+
| # | ###### TOTAL  |   | **585**     | **1300**   |                    |
| # |               |   |             |            |                    |
| # |               |   |             |            |                    |
|   |               |   |             |            |                    |
+---+---------------+---+-------------+------------+--------------------+

[]{#T3 .anchor}Table 3. McMurdo Station Housing Standards and Goals^1^

  ----------------------------------------------- -----------------------
  **Standard**                                    **Goal**

  Maximum occupants per room                      2

  Minimum area for two occupants                  170 sq ft

  Minimum area for one occupant.                  80 sq ft

  Fire suppression and detection                  Per NFPA^2^

  Exiting standards                               Per NFPA

  40% single occupancy                            By 2008

                                                  
  ----------------------------------------------- -----------------------

^1^Goals established in 2000-2001. Before this, four people per room was
routine.

^2^NFPA: National Fire Protection Association

![](media/image1.wmf)[]{#T4 .anchor}

[]{#T5 .anchor}Table 5. Existing McMurdo Station Warehousing Summary

# 

+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| **Bu     | **Storage   | **Admin.    | **H     | **Contents**     |
| ilding** | Area (sq.   | Area (sq.   | eated** |                  |
|          | ft.)**      | ft.)**      |         |                  |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| ###      |             |             |         |                  |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| ### Hea  |             |             |         |                  |
| ted Ware |             |             |         |                  |
| house Fu |             |             |         |                  |
| nctions  |             |             |         |                  |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| 87       | 4,900       | 0           | No      | FEMC             |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| 121      | 3,600       | 200         | Yes     | Electrical       |
| (floor   |             |             |         |                  |
| 2)       |             |             |         |                  |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| 136      | 2,500       | 300         | Yes     | UT & Plumbing    |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| 140      | 2,500       | 1,500       | Yes     | Central Supply   |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| 141      | 3,800       | 0           | Yes     | Electrical       |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| 191/191A | 3,300       | 350         | Yes     | FEMC             |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| 637      | 1,000       | 0           | No      | FEMC             |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| 174      | 5,800       | 0           | Yes     | DNF, EH&S        |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| **Su     | **27,400**  | **2,350**   |         |                  |
| btotal** |             |             |         |                  |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
|          |             |             |         |                  |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| ### Unhe |             |             |         |                  |
| ated War |             |             |         |                  |
| ehouse F |             |             |         |                  |
| unctions |             |             |         |                  |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| 340      | 4,000       | 0           | No      | Special Projects |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| 341      | 4,000       | 0           | No      | UT, Plumbing     |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| 342      | 4,000       | 0           | No      | Central Supply   |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| Milvans  | 22,000      | 0           | No      | General Supply   |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| Open     | 20,000      | 0           | No      | Special Projects |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| **Su     | **54,000**  |             |         |                  |
| btotal** |             |             |         |                  |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
|          |             |             |         |                  |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| ### Food |             |             |         |                  |
|  Storage |             |             |         |                  |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| 120      | 3,600       | 0           | Yes     | Dry Food Storage |
| (floor   |             |             |         |                  |
| 1)       |             |             |         |                  |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| 121      | 3,800       | 0           | Yes     | Beer & Soda      |
| (floor   |             |             |         |                  |
| 1)       |             |             |         |                  |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| 164      | 5,750       | 0           | Freezer | Frozen Food      |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| 176      | 7,800       | 0           | No      | Dry Food Storage |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| 4        | 640         | 0           | Freezer | Frozen Food      |
| Milvans  |             |             |         |                  |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| **Su     | **21,590**  |             |         |                  |
| btotal** |             |             |         |                  |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
|          |             |             |         |                  |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| #        |             |             |         |                  |
| ## Speci |             |             |         |                  |
| alty War |             |             |         |                  |
| ehousing |             |             |         |                  |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| 120      | 3,200       | 150         | Yes     | IT Storage       |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| 126      | 5,000       | 0           | Yes     | SPSM             |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| 174      | 2,000       | 0           | Yes     | Flams            |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| 168      | 4,000       | 0           | No      | Auto Parts       |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| 132      | 7,800       | 200         | Yes     | Auto Parts       |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| **Su     | **22,000**  | **350**     |         |                  |
| btotal** |             |             |         |                  |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
|          |             |             |         |                  |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+
| *        | **124,990** | **2,700**   |         |                  |
| *TOTAL** |             |             |         |                  |
+----------+-------------+-------------+---------+------------------+