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News Release

Construction on Anchorage’s Dena’ina Center Progressing Rapidly

Anchorage, Alaska – Nov. 22, 2006 – Crews have completed about 20 percent of the construction work on Anchorage’s Dena’ina Civic & Convention Center, and the project is right on schedule. In addition to the expanded facility, the project includes plans to connect the building to the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts with heated, textured and covered sidewalks and streetscapes. The entire project is roughly 30 percent finished and is currently in phase three.

The covered walkways connecting the Dena’ina Center and the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts will be designed within the next few months. Plans include landscaping, decorative lighting, a sidewalk snowmelt system and benches. Textured surface material, such as pavers or exposed aggregate concrete, adds safety elements into the sidewalk design. The goal is to create a pedestrian-friendly environment.

“Thanks to the many experienced and competent developers, designers and construction crews, the project has gone very smoothly,” said Kent Crandall, vice president of facilities for Rise Alaska, the project manager for CIVICVentures. CIVICVentures is the non-profit entity created by the Municipality of Anchorage to finance, construct and own the Dena’ina Center. “Everyone involved in the project is aware of how important it is to the community that the project remains on schedule and within budget,” Crandall added.

“The city is very pleased with the progress and smooth pace of the Dena’ina Center,” said Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich. “It is exciting to watch the construction from the windows of City Hall. The cooperation between the construction crews, local businesses, the public and everyone involved has been key to the success of this project so far.”

Crews broke ground on the Dena’ina Center on April 17, 2006. During the past seven months, workers built the footings, foundations, and major shear walls. The contractor recently began erecting the structural steel. This will be the primary focus for the winter. Next summer, crews will work on the roofing, siding, glazing and interior construction. When the project is finished, the building will be 210,000 square feet and 102 feet tall.

The major spaces within the Dena’ina Center will include a first floor with a 50,000-square foot exhibit hall, a loading dock and support space. The exhibit hall will have windows overlooking the sidewalks, inset into the precast concrete exterior wall panel façade. The insets will be finished in a subtle variety of hues that mimic the colors of the northern lights, providing additional vitality to both the building’s exterior and interior. The precast concrete panels are designed to catch the light in unique ways and create interesting shadow patterns on the exterior of the building.

The second floor will consist of administrative space and three meeting rooms (with the ability to sub-divide into six meeting rooms), including an executive meeting room with views to the south and enhanced finishes. The third floor will have a 25,000-square foot ballroom, a kitchen and lobby/pre-function spaces. The building will feature a series of skylights and clearstory windows that will serve as light scoops to bring sunlight into the ballroom and pre-function spaces. An upper level deck will serve the ballroom level, allowing visitors to step outside and enjoy the spectacular view of the Chugach Mountains.

Materials to build the Dena’ina Civic & Convention Center include:

• 11,200 cubic yards of concrete
• 2,600 tons of structural steel
• 40,000 square feet of precast architectural concrete panel
• 675 tons of rebar
• 58,000 square feet of insulated metal panel
• 34,000 square feet of glazing
• 900,000 square feet of drywall
• 135 miles of wire feeder and branch wire
• 30 miles of telephone and data wire
• 80 toilet partitions

Meanwhile, the project’s art selection jury is choosing artists to design original pieces for permanent installation in the Dena’ina Center. The goal is to have artwork that reflects the original concept of the architecture - capturing Alaska’s unique lighting during all four seasons and adding a distinct Native flavor from this area. The plan is to compliment the Athabascan name of the facility and its rooms -- all named after the first people to populate Anchorage. In addition to the art, the design of the center will include interpretive materials and text explaining this region’s Native culture and history, as well as the meaning of the Athabascan names.

The Dena’ina Center will be marketed as part of a larger convention district, also comprised of the William A. Egan Civic & Center and the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. The district easily connects to local retail businesses and restaurants. Once the Dena’ina Center opens its doors, the district will increase its current capacity by 300 percent and will be able to accommodate groups up to 5,000 people.

Four large conventions recently chose Anchorage as the site for future meetings because of the increased convention space. In September 2011, the U.S.A. Canada Lions Leadership Forum will bring 3,200 delegates to Anchorage with an estimated economic impact (EEI) of more than $3 million to the city. This meeting will be the largest out-of-state delegate convention ever booked in Anchorage and will fill the convention center district and 10 hotels to capacity. The National Defense Transportation Association is bringing 1,200 delegates in October of 2010, generating an EEI of more than $2, 250,000. In September of 2009, the National Association of Postmasters of the United States will bring 1,500 delegates to Anchorage with an EEI of $1.9 million. In addition, the IEEE Systems, Man & Cybernetics Conference will bring 800 delegates with an EEI of $779,328. ACVB’s convention sales team is working hard to ensure that the Dena’ina Center will be a busy meeting place once it opens its doors for business.

“This is very good news for Anchorage,” said Bruce Bustamante, president and CEO of the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It proves what we’ve known for years – that Anchorage is a draw for larger conventions and meetings. The expansion will also allow Anchorage to accommodate several mid size groups simultaneously,” he added. “The convention center district will take advantage of our spectacular location by showcasing the city’s exotic appeal, while highlighting Anchorage’s sophistication as a modern, international meeting destination.”

When construction is completed, crews will transition into the “move-in” phase, scheduled to occur in fall of 2008. This will include installing furniture, artwork, stocking place settings, cookware, and a myriad of things required to operate the facility. For more information, visit www.anchorageconventiondistrict.com and log onto www.anchorage.net/custom/webcam_ccc.cfm to see photos of the Dena’ina Center’s progress, updated every 30 seconds.

The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s mission is to attract and serve visitors to the Municipality of Anchorage. ACVB’s marketing functions are funded by one-third of the bed tax collected by the lodging association. One-third goes to the Municipality’s general fund and one-third goes to the Dena’ina Civic & Convention Center construction project. ACVB receives no state or federal funds. For more information, explore www.Anchorage.net.

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Media 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