The annual tradition of building an arch dates back to the late 1960's. Each year sine then the civil engineering students have built an arch, each year picking a new method and new design. In the past, arches have been made piece by piece like stone arches, some have been made of packed snow, others were built up with sprayed on water using a form.

No matter the design or the method, the construction of the ice arch is intended to be a team building exercise, in which students learn how to design and build a real project from start to finish.

At this date, a more thorough history is being sought. If you are a previous student, or faculty member with stories of old ice arches, please email them to: fbasce@uaf.edu