In May, the trial assembly of the new main building of the Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station was successfully completed. In the coming months, the structure will be dismantled, packed, and prepared for maritime transport. The project is commissioned by the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), on behalf of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The final stage of construction is being carried out by a consortium of Dekpol Budownictwo and Andrewex Construction.
“Trial assembly is essential for complex projects in extreme environments. It reduces risks and helps us plan for various operational scenarios. When you’re 14,000 kilometers from Poland, there is no room for mistakes,” said Michał Jakubczyk, Technical Director at Dekpol Budownictwo.
Trial Run in Poland to Prepare for Antarctic Challenges
The trial assembly took place at Andrewex Construction’s manufacturing site in Cierpice, near Toruń. Approximately one-third of the main building was temporarily erected to verify construction accuracy and ensure the technology met all design requirements. It also helped identify potential risks that could disrupt work on-site in Antarctica.
The trial phase began in March with the placement of prefabricated foundations and installation of the steel frame. This was followed by the assembly of the main timber structure, ceiling elements, and cladding panels. Most components were manufactured using semi-automated prefabrication lines at Andrewex, accelerating production and maintaining high quality.
“The trial stage enabled us to verify the chosen technology and identify any potential difficulties that might impact on-site operations in Antarctica,” Jakubczyk added. “This project is a challenge not only due to extreme weather but also because of the remote location and lack of on-site infrastructure. Everything must be fabricated, assembled, and tested here in Poland.”
Dekpol was responsible for foundations, the steel structure, insulation, and the sheet metal façade. Andrewex handled the design and assembly of the timber structure, ceilings, and prefabricated wall panels.
Prefabrication: The Key to Success
“Prefabrication was absolutely critical to this project. Without it, the consortium could not meet the tight construction schedule at the station,” said Serafin Jerzy Szyszka, Director of Contract Implementation at Andrewex Construction.
An impressive 95% of the building envelope will be prefabricated, minimizing the amount of work needed under harsh Antarctic conditions.
The trial also mirrored the equipment and crew setup that will be used in Antarctica, including telescopic handlers, cranes, and team members who will participate in the final assembly. The goal was to simulate conditions as closely as possible, allowing the team to rehearse operations and gain vital experience.
“The trial gave us the opportunity to verify design and engineering solutions, align the team, and gain irreplaceable hands-on knowledge,” Szyszka said.
Around 50 people participated in the trial build. The entire structure and technical equipment will soon be shipped to Gdynia port, then transported to Antarctica.
Final Construction Phase in Antarctica Begins Late 2025
The final construction phase at the Arctowski Station will start at the end of 2025. Work will continue through early 2026 to seal the building envelope, ensuring it’s weatherproof and energy-efficient. Interior finishing is scheduled to begin in April 2026.
The main building—over 10 meters high—will be mounted on a steel support structure weighing around 80 tons. It includes:
- 220+ cubic meters of glued spruce timber,
- Nearly 400 ceiling panels,
- 600+ prefab wood panels with Antarctic-grade metal sheeting,
- 76,000 screws for exterior sheet fastening,
- 130+ reinforced-glass windows,
- 49 custom dome skylights,
- 1,300+ meters of ventilation ducts.
Decades of Polish Antarctic Engineering Legacy
Dekpol Budownictwo has been involved in the station’s reconstruction since 2020, building foundations, the main structure, garage hall, and equipment storage facilities across three Antarctic construction seasons. Andrewex, meanwhile, has a long legacy, having provided glued timber components for the original garage halls on King George Island nearly 50 years ago.
In 2024, the consortium signed a contract for the final stage of the project—the construction of the new main building—marking the culmination of a multi-year effort to modernize Poland’s flagship Antarctic research facility.
Source:
ManagerPlus.pl – Trial Assembly of New Polish Antarctic Station Building Completed
