Rasmuson Foundation Commits $1 Million
The Rasmuson Foundation recently pledged $1 million to the Morris Thompson Center, making the foundation the largest private donor to the project. One half of the grant will be paid outright; the other half is a challenge grant that will be paid out as additional private funds are raised to match it.
“The foundation’s review team asked tough questions, and the project is certainly stronger for this thorough scrutiny,” said leadership team member Richard Wien, a long-time friend of the Rasmuson family. “I think the foundation and the family will be pleased with this investment in the Interior.”
To date, $26.7 million has been raised towards the overall $29.6 million project budget. The budget includes a $2 million endowment for cultural programming. With the Rasmuson grant, up to $800,000 in previously raised funds can be allocated to this endowment.
“The challenge grant is a good reminder that we still need $2.9 million to meet our goal. We hope the community will be generous in helping us meet this one-to-one challenge” said project manager Cindy Schumaker.
Courtesy of Bettisworth North.
Downtown Rotary Supports Cabin Restoration
The Rotary Club of Fairbanks recently adopted the restoration of the historic cabin on the Center’s grounds as its annual project for the next two years, granting $80,000 to help fund the effort.
“We wanted a project in downtown Fairbanks that would be seen and used by many people,” said Denali State Bank president and current Rotary president Jo Heckman. “When the board of directors, incoming president Howard Thies and I heard about the plans for the cabin, we knew it would be perfect.”
Located on the Center’s grounds, the cabin is one of the few pre1910
structures in Fairbanks still on its original site. Tanana Yukon Historical Society president Renee Blahuta is working with cabin builder Sandy Jamieson and other local experts to restore the historic cabin to accurately reflect Fairbanks’ early days. |
Wrapped in festive holiday green Tyvek, the Morris Thompson Center looks quiet from the outside, but things are buzzing inside.
Construction Runs Ahead of Schedule
“On time and on budget” is music to the ears of anyone involved in a construction project, but the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center has done one better: the project is running on budget and ahead of schedule.
Project planners attribute that success to the construction partnership of architects Bettisworth North and general contractor GHEMM Company, both Fairbanks-based companies. Following the “Construction Manager at Risk” method, GHEMM reviewed the original budget estimates and worked with the architects to make necessary adjustments before the design was finalized.
“With the way construction costs have skyrocketed over the past decade, it is a welcome relief to have a contractor that understands the true costs and can stick tight to the budget,” says City of Fairbanks public works director Mike Schmetzer, who is managing the construction project.
Construction has been running smoothly from the beginning, without hidden problems like contaminated fuel tanks. GHEMM moved onto the five-acre construction site on the corner of Wendell and Dunkel Streets in April, and the basic outline of the building had taken shape by mid-July. Today, the plumbing is in, the framing and sheetrock are almost complete, and Denakkanaaga’s kitchen and living room are almost ready for furniture.
GHEMM expects to complete the inside of the building by April, then move outside for landscaping, paving and installing the wood panels and black granite tiles on the building exterior. They expect to turn over the keys to the new owners by the end of July 2008, ahead of the contract’s October completion deadline.
Architect’s renderings show the exterior grounds and the lobby of the Morris Thompson Center. The project is on schedule to open in fall 2008. |
