August 15, 2008
The Hooper Bay Subregional Clinic is nearing completion.
SRC rises in Hooper Bay
by Greg McIntyre, Support Services VP
It has been just a year since the first piling went into the ground in Hooper Bay for the Subregional Clinic. The new SRC is a little over 14,000 square feet and is accompanied by a 6,000 square foot 6-plex to house the SRC staff. Completion of both buildings is anticipated in early 2009.
Although the groundbreaking ceremonies took place in May of 2007, this official start of the project was preceded by several years of planning and applications. This was accomplished through efforts of the YKHC Capital Projects and Grants departments. This predevelopment work includes site acquisition and evaluations, building concepts and design, and cost estimations and applications for funding.
The SRC funding came together topped off by a Denali Commission award for more than $6 million dollars in early 2007. Other funding was secured through Indian Health Service (IHS) medical equipment funding, legislative funding and a Small Ambulatory Program (SAP) grant through IHS for a total of $8,405,700. The 6-plex housing unit for staff was funded primarily through an AHFC grant for health care and matched by a legislative appropriation for a total of $1,718,517.
Site work began in July of 2007 followed by piling. By September of 2007 most of the foundation was complete, including the major structural beams. The remainder of the building packages pulled into Hooper Bay on the last barge of the season and the frames of the buildings began to rise into the Hooper Bay skyline.
There was a slight setback at the end of October as winds that were believed to be in excess of 80 miles per hour blew down some of the SRC wall panels. Replacements were flown in and the building was back on track by mid December. From January of 2008 until the present, work has continued steadily despite temperatures of 30 below zero at times. Both the SRC and the 6-plex are now near completion on the exterior with a variety of interior plumbing, electrical and sheetrock work in progress.
Nick Anelon from the YKHC Construction Department, originally from New Halen and currently from Bethel, supervised the entire project. A local work force of up to 20 people was employed during different phases of the project. The remainder of supplies for the two buildings is currently on the high seas destined for an August arrival in Hooper Bay.
