Blue Abyss
Blue Abyss is building a unique, state of the art aquatic research, training and development facility which will become the world's deepest pool.
Designed by architect Robin Partington, Blue Abyss will include a 50m deep pool to simulate the microgravity of outer space and deep sea environments. Commercial and recreational divers will be able to conduct training at various levels within the pool, while free-divers can test their endurance in the 50m shaft.
G&T is providing cost advice alongside 3PM project managers, Hoare Lea M&E engineers and Pell Frischmann structural engineers.
The pool is aimed primarily at assisting the commercial diving, Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV), Autonomous Unmanned Vehicle (AUV), life science and human spaceflight sectors. However, with the majority of Blue Abyss staff also being keen divers, the facility aims to encourage people of all ages and abilities to discover the joys of exploring marine environments through recreational diving, as well as providing the UK with an innovative, aquatic-based STEM education centre.
Key Contacts
Client
Blue Abyss
Location
Henlow
"A one-off project in ambition and scale"Chris Boyce
Partner, Gardiner & Theobald
The overall complex will house both hyper and hypo-baric chambers and a micro-gravity simulation suspension system for replicating the effects of weightlessness and low gravity in environments like those found on the Moon and Mars.
This R&D facility will be the first in the UK to focus on human spaceflight and its terrestrial benefits. A boutique hotel, six training facilities and classrooms and an onsite cafeteria will complete the complex.
Blue Abyss is in the final stages of securing funding before seeking full planning consent for the site.
