Designed by Rim Architects and LMN Architects of Seattle, the 200,000-square-foot Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center increases Anchorage’s civic and convention capacity by 300 percent. Combined with existing facilities at the William H. Egan Center, Anchorage has the space to host multiple mid-sized meetings simultaneously, with a capacity for groups of up to 5,000.

The Dena’ina Center is part of an even larger expansion of facilities in the downtown Anchorage Convention District. In September 2008, a new 872-space Linny Pacillo parking garage opened adjacent to the Dena’ina Center. Construction of a heated walking corridor along F Street connects the Dena’ina Center to the Performing Arts Center, Town Square and the existing Egan Center. Along F Street, curbs have been removed, lighting improved and colorful planters scattered among the pedestrian-friendly walkway. When large outdoor events are held in conjunction with activities at the Dena’ina Center, F Street can be closed to traffic to allow for a street fair atmosphere.

The Building

Architects took taken cues from Alaska's four seasons. One level embraces fall landscapes and the changing colors of the high country, while another takes visitors into the summer landscape. Highly reflective materials and cooler hues are used as visitors move into the winter landscape.

Visitors enter into a grand lobby with 95-foot ceilings and a 65-foot shimmering, cascading sculpture that depicts birds, mammals and sea creatures of the local region.

The main lobby, at street level, leads to the Dena’ina Center’s 50,000-square-foot exhibit hall, which can accommodate 278 booths, 3,300 people for a sit-down meal or up to 5,000 with theatre seating. A unique use of vertical windows allows for natural light to flood the trade show area. The exhibit hall also features four loading bays, heated grade entrances, concessions and a huge 16-foot-by-30-foot entrance that allows tractor trailers to pull inside the building to unload.

On the second level, the Den’aina Center offers six meeting rooms, totaling an 11,000-square feet of flexible space. Each meeting room is between 1,700 and 5,252 square feet depending upon configuration. The K’enakatnu Executive Board Room features state-of-the-art audio visual equipment and teleconferencing capability, perfect for private, executive meetings.

A 25,000-square-foot ballroom on the third floor features Alaska birch entryways, 10 jumbo skylights in the ceiling that allow for maximum use of natural light and beaded curtain walls. Outside of the ballroom is a large pre-function area that exemplifies the building’s northern design, capturing as much light as possible. That light makes Artist James Grant’s 25-foot stained glass mural, “A Life in a Day of the Dena’ina,” on the south end of the ballroom’s pre-function area look different, depending on the season and time of day the artwork is viewed.

The third floor pre-function area leads to an outdoor terrace that can accommodate up to 900 people and features heated flooring to keep it snow and ice-free. The outdoor deck will not only give conventioneers a welcome breath of fresh air, it also features stunning views of the Chugach Range and downtown.

The Dena’ina Center’s state-of-the-art kitchen is capable of preparing up to 5,000 meals. Walk-in coolers and freezers, a bakery station, conveyor belt “dish up” stations and dozens of cook and hold ovens on wheels allow for easy transfer of food. The kitchen includes a dishwasher that is capable of washing more than 15,000 plates an hour and two coffee machines capable of brewing 9,576 cups of coffee per hour.

Designed by Rim Architects and LMN Architects of Seattle, the design/build contractor was Davis Construction. A non-profit entity called CivicVentures created by the Municipality of Anchorage financed the construction. Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau manages this building along with the Egan Center, and has contracted with SMG Alaska to handle the day-to-day operations.