Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center: set to open in fall 2008, this facility will attract large conventions.

• Author: Barry, Mary Lou

The Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center will be a tremendous addition to Anchorage and will allow Alaska's largest city to host large conventions and multiple mid-size conventions, said supporters. It was approved by voters in April 2005 and will be completed and ready for operation next year. Already, conventions are being booked, and already, individuals, businesses and visitors are excited about the prospects this large and beautiful center will bring.

OVERVIEW

The 200,000-square-foot, $103 million complex has been under construction in downtown Anchorage since April 2006. It is slated to open for business in September 2008.

"The design for the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center is the result of a collaborative design team partnership between RIM Architects and LMN Architects," said Cynthia Oistad of RIM Business Development/Community Relations. "RIM provided the design team with inspiration about what makes Alaska unique and the expertise on designing highly functional and appropriate facilities in Alaska."

LMN, a veteran of 50 other convention center designs all over the world, contributed its substantial experience working with the specific building type.

"Collectively," Oistad said, "we refined the convention center design, which is based on creating a signature convention experience unique to Alaska."

TEAM

The principal players in this construction effort are:

Developer: Alaska Center for Convention and Trade LLC, a joint venture of JL Properties Inc. and Venture Development Group LLC

General Contractor: Neeser Construction Inc.

Architect: RIM Architects and LMN Architects

F Street Amenities Design: Koonce Pfeffer Bettis Architects

Civil Engineer: DOWL Engineers

Structural Engineer: BBFM Engineers and Magnusson Klemencic Associates

Mechanical and Electrical Engineer: Syska Hennessy Group

Landscape Architecture: Land Design North

Construction Management: RISE Alaska LLC

HISTORY

The project was conceived in 1998 with the first feasibility study. Construction began April 17, 2006.

In summer 2006, the Anchorage Assembly, acting on a recommendation of a panel appointed by the mayor, voted to name the center in honor of the Dena'ina (DEH-nah EE-nah) Athabascans, the people who first settled the Upper Cook Inlet basin approximately 1,500 years ago. Accordingly, the five major rooms will be called:

Main Ballroom--Tikahtnu (Cook Inlet)

Executive Boardroom--K'enakatnu (Knik)

Meeting Room--Kahtnu (Kenai)

Meeting Room--Tubughnenq' (Tyonek)

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