Alaska construction updates: a small sampling of some big projects.

• Author: Anderson, Tasha
• Position: SPECIAL SECTION: Building Alaska

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Alaska Scientific Detection Laboratory-Anchorage

Owner: State of Alaska

Contractor: Neeser Construction Inc.

Cost: $87.5 million

Project: An 84,000 square foot building replaced a 19,200 square foot building. The larger space includes: a firearms and toolmark lab; a latent prints, or fingerprint analysis lab; a breath alcohol lab; a blood alcohol lab; a controlled substances or drug lab; a biological screening lab; a DNA analysis lab; and a DNA data basing lab.

Update: Construction was completed and the crime lab opened in early June.

Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center-Anchorage

Owner: Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center

Contractor: Roger Hickel Contracting

Cost: $28 million

Project: The new Health Center is located on C Street near the intersection of International Airport Road. This new facility will provide expanded medical clinics, an expanded dental clinic, expanded support facilities and increase access to care.

Update: Ground broke for the new health center in June 2011 and it will be open this September.

Deadhorse Aviation Center-Deadhorse

Owners: Offshore Support Services LLC; Fairweather LLC; Kaktovik Inupiat Corp.

Contractor: Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corp.

Cost: $35 million

Project: The Deadhorse Aviation Center is 70,000 square feet, offers secure taxiway access and features an ergonomically designed hangar, airport terminal, multiple secure office suites, a medical clinic, tenant and staffhousing, dining facilities, a logistics center and a pristine 10.4-acre laydown yard.

Update: The Aviation Center is open and operational as of this June.

Girdwood Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrade-Girdwood

Owner: Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility

Contractor: MKB Construction

Cost: $10 million (Phase 1); estimated $40 million to $60 million (entire project)

Project: Upgrading Girdwood's aging wastewater treatment facility, located off Ruane Road. The upgrades will enable the wastewater treatment facility to process the increased volume of wastewater generated by Girdwood's growing population, and improve the quality of wastewater treatment.

Update: The project is currently in Phase I, which will solve existing operational problems, targeting select improvements. Construction began in June. Phase II is anticipated to begin 2016 and will provide expanded, upgraded wastewater treatment capability.

Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital Replacement Project-Barrow

Owner: Arctic Slope Native Association

Contractor: ASRC SKW...