Fireweed Business Center

2015
Anchorage, Alaska
Cook Inlet Regional, Inc.

RESPEC provided the components and cladding support for this new, 110,000-square-foot, eight-story office building in midtown Anchorage, Alaska. The cladding elements, such as the roof and wall coverings, receive wind loads directly. The components receive wind loads either directly or from the cladding and then transfer the loads to the main wind-force-resisting system. The cladding and component elements are exposed to higher wind pressures and must be designed accordingly.

This building, which features clean lines and glass facades, was designed using an external geometry that changes the outside appearance of the building depending on the location of the viewer. High-tech, dynamic glass windows that dim automatically were used to reduce glare and summer solar heating. The building’s exterior was designed to not only produce solar energy but also provide optimal daylight to occupants. The project obtained Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification.