"What's New" Archives - 2004
"What's New" Archives:
5/25/04 Press Release: Access Road Started to Building Research Center on UAF Campus
Fairbanks, May 25, 2004. Work began today clearing the way for construction of an access road to the future site of the Cold Climate Building and Infrastructure Research and Testing Facility on the UAF campus. The research and testing facility (RTF) will house the offices and testing facilities of the Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC) as well as laboratory space to be shared with the UAF Institute of Northern Engineering and State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. It will also facilitate outreach on building energy efficiency issues by the UAF Cooperative Extension Service and the Golden Valley Electric Association.
CCHRC presently manages research projects in communities across the whole state from leased offices in downtown Fairbanks. In the RTF they plan to add cold-weather product testing and eventually an "Alaska Tested - Alaska Tuff" certification for products that are well suited for use in our extreme climate. In addition, the RTF building itself is intended to be used to test and research the performance of products and equipment in actual use under year-round Alaskan conditions.
The 15,000 square foot RTF will be located on 2.5 acres of land to be leased from the University in an area slated for development of a research park. The land is south of the Patty Athletic Complex and west of West Valley High School. The access road will lead from Fairbanks Street across from the high school and will parallel the Alaska Railroad tracks to the site.
While all of the funds for construction of the $3.2 million RTF are not secured at this time, Jack Hebert, President and CEO of the Cold Climate Housing Research Center, said "we are hopeful that the funding situation will be clear enough to begin construction about mid summer." The State Legislature has appropriated about $900,000, which is awaiting the Governor's signature, and CCHRC is seeking the remaining funds from federal and private sources.
The
Cold Climate Housing Research Center is an industry based, non-profit
corporation created to facilitate the development, use, and testing
of energy efficient, durable, healthy, and cost effective building
technologies for Alaska and the world's cold climate regions. The
Research Center was conceived and developed by members of the Alaska
State Home Builders Association, representing over 1,200 building
industry firms and groups, the largest per capita builders' association
in the nation. Ninety percent of CCHRC's charter members are general
contractors from across the state.
back to top
5/14/04 R-Valued Homes, Alaskan builder and CCHRC member, received a national energy efficiency award from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center. Ron Burkhardsmeier, president of R-Values Homes, received the 2004 Gold Winner of the Energy Value Housing Award (EVHA) during the International Home Builders show in Las Vegas in January. view photo
4/16/04 The site of the future Cold Climate Research Test Facility (RTF) now has a weather station. Click on Cold Climate Research Test Facility above for more information and a link to live data from the site.
2/17/04 CCHRC Announces Capital Campaign to Fund Proposed Research & Testing Facility Building view photo, view press release
