Municipality of Anchorage News Release
Webcam Offers View of Convention Center Construction: Internet beams images of Anchorage’s economic development
Anchorage, Alaska – July 21, 2006 – In an effort to provide the public with an up-to-date view of the new Anchorage Civic and Convention Center, a webcam has been installed to capture the project as it is constructed over the next two years.
The city installed a camera on the 6th floor of the south side of City Hall to capture the full view of the construction site. The image is updated every 30 seconds and is transmitted from the municipal data network to the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s (ACVB) server. The ACVB has agreed to maintain the site and make the images available to the public. The camera is also linked to the city’s webpage.
“The new convention center is progressing so rapidly, it’s exciting to watch the progress each day,” Mayor Begich said. “This new webcam will allow people anywhere to take a look at one of the most significant economic development projects underway in Anchorage.”
To see the new webcam link, go to www.muni.org, or to www.anchorage.net/media.
After years of planning and approval of voters in 2005, crews broke ground on the 215,000-square-foot expanded civic and convention center three months ago. When it opens in Fall 2008, Anchorage’s civic and convention capacity will increase by 300 percent, generating millions of dollars in new convention meeting and event business.
Right now, crews are working on the center’s foundation and have erected forms to pour the concrete walls for the building. By September, the steel support system is expected to get underway. Ultimately, the center will include enough concrete to lay a sidewalk between Anchorage and Wasilla, as much steel as is in 1,900 Ford F-150 pick-ups, 165 miles of wire and phone cables and 80 toilet partitions.
A citizen group appointed by the mayor has recommended naming the signature building in honor of the Native people who first populated this area. The Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center will help visitors and locals alike appreciate the rich cultural diversity of our area. The Assembly is scheduled to approve the name in August.
Media Contact: Julie Hasquet
Communications Director
Office of Mayor Mark Begich
Municipality of Anchorage
(907) 343-7103
Additional Contacts:
Laura Tanis
Public Relations Manager
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
ltanis@anchorage.net
(907) 257-2331 direct
(907) 250-5285 cell
(907) 222-3752 fax
Nance Larsen, APR
Vice President, Communications & Marketing Programs
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
nlarsen@anchorage.net
(907) 276-4118 direct
