Thermal Analysis of an Elevated Building at Summit Station, Greenland

The "Big House" is the main administration building at Summit Station, Greenland. It is the center of camp life and supports the overall station operation, as well as providing common areas for dining, washing, and leisure for camp attendees and staff. Constructed in 1989 on a permanent snowfield at the apex of the Greenland Ice Sheet, the building is elevated above the snow surface on steel support columns to reduce the adverse effects of drifting due to accumulating and blowing snow. The annual rate of snowfall is typically 70 cm. Periodically, the building is lifted to maintain clearance above the snow grade. Absent lifting, the structure becomes completely drifted in. The Big House has been lifted on four occasions for a combined total height of 15 m. The lifting process can damage buildings through racking. An infrared survey was conducted to identify existing deficiencies in the building envelope that may either diminish the energy efficiency or compromise the structural performance, reducing the building's service life. Even located in such an extreme climate, this assessment found that the Big House is performing quite well after 20 years of service. The most significant issue was heat loss in localized areas through the building envelope. No major structural issues were observed.