When it's nearing 30 below and the wind is blowing just enough to pluck off a few extra degrees, working outside becomes a lesson in survival. But in Kotzebue, where winter can mean weeks and weeks of subzero temperatures coupled with relentless wind, the show must go on.
In early February, with the wind chill factor dropping the daytime temperatures to nearly 50 below, workers at Kotzebue's new Youth Center were bundled up and building away.
Phase 1 of the $1.5 million, 3,600-square-foot facility hopefully will be completed by the spring, said City Manger Derek Martin.
"We're looking forward to having a big grand opening within another month or so," he said.
Minor setbacks with materials, logistics and weather have delayed the project -- the initial timeline called for phase 1 completion by November -- but progress continues to be made and those overseeing the center's construction are pleased thus far.
Earlier this month on a tour of the new facility, it was easy to envision the open room filled with young people studying, playing games or watching movies, though the walls were still mostly bare drywall and the floors dusty plywood. Workers bustled around inside and out, measuring and drilling and cutting, pausing on their way outside to warm up their hands.
The concept for the project came a few years ago when the city updated its comprehensive plan and decided more recreational facilities and opportunities were needed in Kotzebue. In July 2013, the city offered a special election in which residents voted for the city to take out a $5 million loan to start, and complete, recreational projects around town. One of them was phase 1 of the Youth Center.
A recreation committee was formed to better establish and organize the needs and wants of residents.
"They made it a high priority to bring back a facility that would be a place for youth and teens to get together for healthy activities and to partake in various programs," Martin explained.
The center will also house the city's Parks and Recreation Department and the Boys and Girls Club with a goal of having the building open as long and as often as possible.
Kikiktagruk Inupiat Corporation is overseeing construction on the project with Dowl taking on the engineering duties. The Boys and Girls Club of Alaska also contributed $25,000 for furniture.
Tom Atkinson is the new director of Parks and Rec and along with his assistant, Kelly Kendall, is tasked with creating a host of programs and schedules to keep youth and teens busy. Already, a monthly calendar has been established with a teen dance and skate night offering after-hours recreation. The parks department has also helped facilitate extended hours at the City's existing rec center with early morning gym hours for those who want to get a workout in before heading to their jobs.
"We're trying to accommodate all the various suggestions as best we can," Martin said.
Phase 2 of the new Youth Center will include a large extension to the building, though the priority remains on the first phase for now.
"Construction is moving along nicely," said Daniel Nichols, a Dowl engineer and head of the design team for the project. "It's taking a little longer than we originally planned, but I'm very pleased with the progress and pleased with quality as it stands."
For assistant project manager Jim Kyser, the setbacks with materials are all par for the course with cold weather adding an extra challenge to the schedule.
"We are near the finish," he said "Working in the Arctic provides challenges as far as the ability to use our equipment and things of that nature. We missed some of the nice, spring-like weather that we had earlier, but hopefully we'll get a break in the weather and make more progress on the exterior in the next few weeks."
Getting the right materials manufactured and shipped from Anchorage and beyond has also taken a little more time than expected, he added.
Meanwhile, while workers brave the cold at the youth center, other projects are set for completion this summer as well.
Phase 2 of the Swan Lake upgrade starts this summer with floating docks, lighting and a heavy load-out area on the agenda for the warmer months. That project will go out to bid at the end of this month, Martin said. A cordoned-off swimming area is also in works at Swan Lake, as well as a new ballfield in town.
"There's been a lot of development in Kotzebue lately," Martin said, adding that the new developments are not just city projects. "If you take a look at Kotzebue 10 or 15 years ago, it's not the same Kotzebue."
Between the new National Parks Service building erected a decade ago, to the new hotel, runway improvements, the Shore Avenue overhaul, new water and sewer systems, new grocery store and restaurants, the community has almost had a complete facelift in the past 10 years.
"People were looking for change and looking forward to change, and we're trying to survive as best we can in this very high-cost community," Martin said.