University officials unveiled a new facility Saturday that would be used to study how to make houses more functional in Alaska's cold climate.

The innovative smart building design of the Cold Climate Housing Research Center's Cold Climate Building and Infrastructure Research and Testing Facility is related to the center's focus on researching and promoting housing practices that are sustainable for Alaska.

The CCHRC began as an idea from the Alaska Homebuilders Association in 2000, and received the backing of other building organizations. Construction began on the $5.2 million research testing facility in July 2005.

Though the CCHRC is a separate institution from UAF, its research is conducted in conjunction with professors from the UAF Institute of Northern Engineering, along with faculty and students at UAS and UAA.

The new facility's south lab has already been leased to UAF for research and instruction. The CCHRC is also contacting graduate students to help with research.

"We came here because of all the young energy and brightness," said CCHRC CEO and President Jack Hebert. "We could be anywhere, but we want to be here. You are the future. This building is here to make a difference- it is your building. We want to work with you and engage you. We need you."

The new building will serve as both the administrative headquarters and an ongoing research center for the CCHRC. By combining the administrative and research facilities as well as classrooms and a library for public use, the center hopes to disseminate its findings easier to Alaskans, and incorporate them into standard building practices.

"The research is lovely, but it is having people be able to have access to it that really matters," said development coordinator Jennifer Jolis.

Research was incorporated into the building's design both to test new ideas and put into practice past discoveries. Sustainability was also a concern in the design. From the way things run to the materials used in construction, the buildings designers placed significant focus on making the facility a model for future housing in Alaska.

Designers chose eco-friendly paints and carpets that did not emit volatile organic compounds. The wood used is local birch, and a local craftsman welded the iron staircase.

The research incorporated into the facility ranges from insulation to air quality, and is monitored by more than 400 sensors in different areas of the building.

The walls are insulated using a new technique that reverses the typical order of materials, which is a more effective means of retaining heat and preventing mold within the walls. Throughout the walls are sensors that monitor the effectiveness of the new insulation. They collect data on temperature, moisture, and other factors, and relay it to a computer system where researchers have access to the information at all times.

Another component of the building is the smart house design, which causes the monitoring systems to control the air quality, lighting and heating within the building. Human input can override the system, but is not necessary for the building to maintain a healthy atmosphere.

The ventilation system is designed to adjust the amount of air circulating depending on the how many people are in the building: more people means more air. It also controls the levels of carbons and other compounds. The filter maintains a healthy air quality at all times. It has room to add filters so the building can be a safe-haven during times when the outside air quality is diminished due to fire or other disasters.

Windows provide natural light to almost every office, classroom and lab. Artificial lights provide the remainder of the lighting needed. The monitoring system controls the lighting in the room, taking into account what the room is used for and providing artificial lighting to make up the difference between existing light and needed light.

Likewise, the heating system is based off of one masonry-heater in the entryway, which is designed to heat the entire building by being run a few times a day. It burns a fire, and then the heat travels throughout the coils and warms water that is run underneath the entire house.

In his speech, Chancellor Steve Jones reinforced the importance of the connection between UAF and the CCHRC. In particular, he talked about the valuable connection between business, government, education, research, and industry that the new facility stands for.

Tours of the facility were available during the ribbon cutting, and also when the building was opened to the general public later in the afternoon. Many of the building's sponsors were also on hand to display their contributions and explain the new technology that they have developed.