Alaska Native Corporation Real Estate Development: companies continue trend of building prime office space.

• Author: Anderson, Tasha
• Position: ALASKA NATIVE BUSINESS

Many Alaska Native Regional and Village Corporations are involved in real estate development, directly or through subsidiaries, helping to literally build Alaska through new construction, remodeling or managing current structures, or through their involvement in the construction of various public projects including roads, playgrounds, bridges, healthcare facilities, and community centers. It is always exciting, then, when one of those companies is in a position to construct their own building to specifically suit their own needs--essentially building a home for the business that takes care of their home.

Cook Inlet Region, Inc.

Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI) is in the final stages of completing the Fireweed Business Center, located at the Corner of Fireweed Lane and the New Seward Highway in Anchorage. According to CIRI Corporate Communications Director Jason Moore, the building should be finished and ready for tenants in late May or early June. Finishing touches such as painting and moving furniture will take place in May.

The Fireweed Business Center is eight stories and 110,000 square feet. Accompanying views of Cook Inlet and the Chugach Mountains are a large lobby with fireplace, cafe, and conference center; a third floor deck and employee dining lounge; abundant parking; and heated walkways.

The building was designed with input from CIRI shareholders to ensure the building reflects cultural values of sustainability, diversity, and respect for the land.

It will be the new headquarters location for CIRI with room for other tenants. According to Moore, as of press time, some potential tenants were "in discussions, but nothing is firm."

The Fireweed Business Center includes many sustainable technologies and Moore anticipates it will meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver requirements through innovative features such as automated intelligent windows that transition to control light and heat; insulated glass that disburses natural light glare-free; vacuum insulated panel spandrels that increase thermal performance; triple-glazed low-E windows (or low-emissivity windows) made by View, Inc.; a VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) system that provides cooling and/or heating to individual areas on-demand; and daylight-sensing direct/indirect volumetric LED office lighting. The vacuum insulated spandrels, manufactured by Dow Corning, have an R-value in the fifties, Moore says, which may be double the R-value of the walls of...