Looking North to Alaskan History, Pt. 1
Fairbanks museum draws attention Workers in Fairbanks are putting the final touches on a building that is arguably the most unique in the state. (Eric Sowl/KTUU-TV)
Museum Director Dr. Aldona Jonaitis said the building is designed to inspire curiosity. (Eric Sowl/KTUU-TV)
The museum houses more than a million Alaska artifacts and has been around for generations. Several years ago the school began a $42-million expansion and facelift. (Eric Sowl/KTUU-TV)
Designers said they were inspired by ice, but Jonaitis said each person can interpret the building in their own way. (Eric Sowl/KTUU-TV)
The construction was originally supposed to cost $31 million, but there were a number of changes made to the plans and the price tag went up to $42 million. (Eric Sowl/KTUU-TV)
by Steve MacDonald
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Alaska isn't particularly known for its architecture. But, workers in Fairbanks are putting the final touches on a building that is arguably the most unique in the state.
The building is so unique that it's getting national and international attention and putting the University of Alaska Fairbanks on the map.
The Museum of the North is an eye catcher; gleaming white building sitting along a ridge on the campus of UAF.
Museum Director Dr. Aldona Jonaitis said the building is designed to inspire curiosity.
"When you see this building from the air when you're landing in Fairbanks, chances are you'll say, ‘I want to see that close up. What is that?'"
The museum houses more than a million Alaska artifacts and has been around for generations. Several years ago the school began a $42-million expansion and facelift. The size of the building doubled and its exterior took on a look never seen in these parts before.
"We decided then if we're going to have an art gallery, then we should have a building that itself is a form of art. And a work of art that expresses the sense of Alaska," Jonaitis said.
The building is outlined by sharp corners and gently sloping lines.
"The outside is a sculptural statement, when you walk around the building it's really three-dimensional. Every angle that you position yourself at you see something different," Jonaitis said.
Designers said they were inspired by ice, but Jonaitis said each person can interpret the building in their own way.
"People see in the building glaciers and icebergs and diving whales and mountain ridges," Joanaitis said.
Inside its all about space. There are high ceilings, elegant stair cases and windows that take advantage of the natural surroundings.
Kerynn Fisher said there's also a living room for patrons to take a break.
"They have all of this mental stimulation looking at the exhibits and they come out of the museum and they're exhausted. So this is a place to sit and relax," Fisher said.
Museum management said the building is living up to its advanced billing.
"No matter how good we are, if we're just a box we don't call attention to ourselves, no one is going to recognize that we're special," Jonaitis said.
And being special means landing in some major publications.
"When I had said, ‘You know, what do I want? What would please me the most?' The answer was, I want to get into the New York Times and we did it, which is so great," Jonaitis said.
And according to Jonaitis, the publicity means more people at the box office.
She said tourism groups are putting the museum on their lists of places to stop.
"We are at heart a research and teaching institution. That attention is bringing more visitors here. Those visitors, in addition to getting a unique experience of Alaska, they are helping us support the true mission of this museum," Jonaitis said.
A museum embracing Alaska's history with a futuristic look.
The construction was originally supposed to cost $31 million, but there were a number of changes made to the plans and the price tag went up to $42 million.
The university is also disputing claims by construction company Alaska Mechanical that it owes $17 million for additional work. That disagreement will likely be settled in court.
http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=6528641