WHAT: The Alaska Technology Center will consist of three buildings that will mainly cater to manufacturing needs of the oil and gas industry. The main building will house Unique Machine's offices, general machine shop, and CNC (computerized numeric controls) lathes and mills. Its first floor will contain 4,892 square feet of office space and 24,003 square feet of shop space. The second floor will have 4,895 square feet of office space and 1,810 square feet of storage/mezzanine space.
The second building will have 18,000 square feet of shop space for the thread plant. It will contain two automated thread lines that perform full-length threading of oil country tubular goods, commonly referred to as casing and tubing. "We will have the ability to thread pipe diameters that range from 2 38 inches to 20 inches," said Pat Hanley, general manager and vice president for Unique Machine. "The new CNC lathe that we will be installing on the casing line will be the largest CNC lathe in the state."
The third building will feature 14,000 square feet of shop space for storage and material preparation (sawing). A rail spur will be added in the spring.
Unique Machine performs overhaul and repair for many major Alaska industries, including construction, mining and fishing, as well as for the general public. It also does print work, mainly for the oil and gas industry. Accessory manufacturing and threading as well as full-length threading are services that the company provides exclusively for oil fields.
Future expansion could include additional buildings that would be a mix of shop and office space.
WHERE: 8775 King St.
COST: The three building permits associated with this project are collectively valued at $5.4 million, said Birgitta Kyttle with the city's building permit office.
DESIGN: Faulkenberry and Associates Inc., architect; Enterprise Engineering, civil engineer; EIC Engineers Inc., electrical engineer; Oein Associates Inc., structural engineer; Associate Design Consultants Inc., railroad spur track design; and H&K Sheet Metal Fabricators Inc., mechanical plumbing and heating.
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: MCN Construction Inc.
SUBCONTRACTORS: Sentec Surveying and Engineering Inc.; BC Excavating Inc., civil; Handle Construction, concrete, curbs and sidewalks; Northern Reinforcing Placers, rebar; Whalen Construction, steel and metal panel erector; Knik Plumbing and Heating; H&K Sheet Metal Fabricators Inc., mechanical; Northstar Electric Co.; Accel Fire Systems Inc., sprinkler; Ram Services Garage Doors, overhead doors; Alas-Co General Construction, insulation and vapor barrier; Balfour Beatty Rail Inc., rail spur; Capitol Glass/Northerm Windows, glazing and storefront; Pacific Partition Systems, acoustical ceilings; Washington Crane, bridge cranes; Glass Sash & Door, hollow metal door frames and hardware; and Kingspan/API, metal panels.
WHY: "Unique Machine has gone through so much growth that we have essentially outgrown our current facility," said Hanley. "It's challenging to coordinate a lot of the work." The present location -- 5839 Old Seward Highway -- has about 2,800 square feet of office space and 19,775 square feet of shop in two buildings. Underlying reasons for building the new facility, Hanley said, are to "provide a safer workplace, expand our product base in Alaska and enhance the services that we provide."
WHEN: The entire project will probably be completed in July, said Hanley. "We are going to begin phasing in part of our operation (the thread plant) in March," he said.
Information compiled by Daily News reporter Asta Corley. Have you driven by a construction project lately and wondered "What is that going to be" It might be a potential candidate for our Building Anchorage feature. If you have a project to suggest, call Asta Corley at 257-4307 or e-mail acorley@adn.com.
By ASTA CORLEY
Anchorage Daily News