Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center: 'bridge between cultures.'.(BUILDING ALASKA)

An extraordinary bridge between the public sector and private sector, Native and non-Native organizations, rural and urban cultures is under construction in downtown Fairbanks.

When the 35,000-square-foot Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center opens in fall 2008, it will provide a one-stop facility for visitors and residents who want to explore the wide range of cultures in Interior Alaska.

The center will house the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau; Alaska Public Lands Information Center; cultural and education programs of the Tanana Chiefs Conference; and Native elders organization, Denakkanaaga.

Space for exhibits, a theater, an artisans' workshop and demonstration area, an elders' gathering area, cultural and environmental classrooms is also included in the design.

"It will unfold a whole range of opportunities between Fairbanks and the rural region around us," says Deb Hickok, president of the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The center is designed to enrich the ties between rural and urban cultures, she says. It will provide vastly improved visitor information and services, including parking and restrooms. In the future, the center may also help build tourism economies in Interior villages.

"We're excited about the possibilities and I think they're going to be boundless," Hickok says.

The lobby features a vast three-dimensional map of Alaska and a Bush plane, to emphasize the vastness of the state and the importance of air travel. Trip planning services will be available. Galleries will showcase how Alaskans make their living, winter activities and information about the dozens of villages in Interior Alaska.

Other displays will emphasize the importance of rivers to traditional life and how, in a big land with a small population, one person can make a big impact.

The center will honor the memory of Morris Thompson, a prominent business and Native leader who was born, raised and is now buried in Tanana. Thompson was a commissioner of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, held leadership positions in the Alaska Federation of Natives and Commonwealth North, held a cabinet position in the Hickel administration and was CEO of Doyon Ltd. He is lauded as a communicator and builder of bridges between cultures.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

It was designed by Bettisworth North and the primary contractor is GHEMM Co. Located on the southern bank of the Chena River, it extends the downtown core of Fairbanks and unites it through an urban park.

The nearly $30 million center is funded by a wide range of federal, state, local and private grants, including $16.5 million in federal grants, $6.1 million from the State of Alaska, $250,000 from the Fairbanks North Star Borough, and $2.4 million from more than 500 private businesses and individuals. The Alaska Native community contributed $1 million, including $500,000 from Doyon Ltd. Arctic Slope Regional Corp. also pitched in $300,000.

Last year, the Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation pledged $150,000 for the project, which was matched by an additional $50,000 each from Holland America, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean for a total of $300,000 from the cruise industry. In August, the Rotary Club of Fairbanks pledged $80,000 to restore a historic cabin on the grounds of the center.

The project is about $4 million short of its goal and fundraising continues, says Cindy Schumaker, director of the Morris Thompson Center.

The land is owned by the city of Fairbanks, which signed a long-term lease with the center.

GHEMM Co. broke ground on the Morris Thompson Center in April. Construction is coming along well, says Mike Davis, project manager. The building should be enclosed by winter and is on track to be completed by fall 2008.

Subcontractors on the project include:

Fulford Electric

Denali Mechanical

Gundersen Painting

MacCheynes Carpets Plus

Tilly & Co.

Bucher Glass

Interior Alaska Roofing

Universal Welding and Fabrication

Skippy Inc.

Interior Concrete

Exclusive Paving