Summary

Nvision provided planning, design, and construction administration services for the replacement of a dilapidated dormitory built in the 1960s at AVTEC – Alaska's Institute of Technology in the heart of downtown Seward. Nvision designed the new 120-bed dormitory, which sits atop 3rd Avenue and has sweeping views of Resurrection Bay, to encompass 35,500 SF with a combination of single and double occupancy rooms with shared en suite bathrooms. The focal point of the dormitory is designed around the public spaces of the building, which include the main entry, arctic vestibule connection to the existing cafeteria and culinary academy, dorm offices, student lounges, and recreation rooms. The design was inspired by coastal architecture and nautically themed elements. Given the harsh marine climate of Seward, the design includes protected entries that keep the rain and north winds out while incorporating rain screen exterior envelope technology for improved structural longevity. This project utilized the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) project delivery method, which allowed the team to develop an innovative modular construction method that reduced the overall cost of the project in two important ways. First, it allowed the majority of the building to be built in a modular plant off site in Idaho and then shipped to Seward by barge. This maximized the efficiency of construction by allowing crew members to work in a controlled environment. Second, modular construction reduced the length of the project by as much as a year, saving millions of dollars in typical general conditions and extended labor costs.