The National Science Foundations Central Offices at McMurdo – The Chalet
Jeffrey Donenfeld
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At McMurdo, the National Science Foundation uses a building called the Chalet as their central offices – this includes office space for the senior representative, high level administrative staff, travel staff, as well as general reception and meeting spaces for science and program related meetings. It’s a beautiful building, and a pleasure to visit. A few photos from a quick exploration of Antarctica’s Chalet.
The deck of the McMurdo Chalet, home of the central NSF Antarctic officesUpstairs, there’s another conference table.
The Chalet houses the main NSF offices in Antarctica, including Senior United States Representative to Antarctica Pete Ridilla’s office.Reverse angle of the central space, showing the upstairs balcony.Inside the Chalet, the central space is used as a meeting and presentation hall, with a lectern and projector screen. There’s also an upstairs balcony for additional seating.
The bust of Richard Evelyn Byrd, Rear Admiral, United States Navy, displayed centrally on the back deck of the chalet. The inscription reads: “I am hopeful that antarctica in its cymbolic robe of white will shine forth as a continent of peas as nations working together there in the cause of science set an example of international cooperation. To all who follow in admiral byrd’s footsteps this monument is dedicated. – National Geographic Society”The plaque commemorating Operation Deep Freeze, on the back deck of the ChaletThe chalet is located on the corner of town, with easy access from the center of town, and a stunning view to McMurdo sound off the back deck. Unlike the industrial architecture of most buildings at McMurdo, the chalet has a style of its own.
