\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nEstablished in 1955, McMurdo consists of numerous buildings and infrastructure of varying sizes and functions, many that are no longer used, others that will be replaced and consolidated into more efficient modern facilities. \u201cI’ve been telling people the best way to describe it is like some of the old mining towns here in Colorado or out in California that are half abandoned,\u201d Peter says of his first impressions of McMurdo. He also discusses the added challenges of design and construction in the Antarctic\u2014extreme weather and permafrost, materials logistics, limited construction seasons\u2014and key takeaways from the dormitory project. \u201cGenerally, we made good decisions,\u201d he says, adding that there were many lessons learned to apply to the core building\u2014the next project IMEG will design for the NSF. \u201cThe dormitory is one of their first major projects and hopefully the lessons transfer.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhile he was scheduled to be at McMurdo for six days, bad weather and airplane mechanical issues extended his stay to 12 days. That allowed him to be present for the dormitory \u201ctopping off\u201d ceremony\u2014the hoisting and placement of the final structural steel beam, which he signed along with the other project team partners who were present. The additional days also gave him extra time to explore and take photos and videos of the Antarctic\u2019s native residents. \u201cOne of the days, there were two little Adelie penguins walking down the road and we were all standing there watching them. Another day the big emperor penguins came in and there was probably 50, 60, or 70 of them.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe Antarctica trip will always stand out among Peter\u2019s career highlights and is decidedly his farthest site visit ever\u2014eclipsing a past visit to Saudi Arabia and easily outdistancing anything else. \u201cFor something that was in Denver, I’d leave the office in the morning, go out, and be back before lunch.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWatch a video of Peter Monroe\u2019s Antarctica site visit.<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nListen to the podcast:
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