UAF is gearing up for a $5.7 million renovation to the Arctic Health Research Building after years of deferred maintenance and fire code violations.

"Current and future researchers will have good modern labs to perform research," said Marc Wohlford of the Division of Design and Construction. "The renovations will enable us to keep up with cutting edge technology, as well as meet code."

The Board of Regents approved spending the state appropriations at its meeting in Anchorage on Sept. 22. The renovations will primarily be in the Institute of Arctic Biology's labs in the building's east wing, which have not kept pace with modern technology, Wohlford said.

The labs have not changed significantly since being built in 1964, Wohlford said. As a result, the rooms are not compatible with much of the current scientific technology.

In addition to redesigning the labs, money will also be used to refurnish them with updated equipment.

Aside from making the labs more functional, the renovations will also bring them up to safety codes and complete past deferred maintenance on the building.

In 1991, the fire marshal cited the labs for numerous fire code violations. To address that issue, a number of updates are required. They include changes to where the lab stations are situated, new fire alarms and sprinklers, new chemical storage space, more emergency lighting, and appropriate ceiling materials.

Deferred maintenance renovations will avoid the need for $3 million to $4 million in separate updates. They include alterations to the heating, ventilation, cooling and electrical systems. It will also cover ceiling lighting, new fume hoods, and other general maintenance issues.

Facility Services anticipates finishing the job by December 2007.

Biology professor Diane O'Brien, a member of the committee that will be working on the renovation plans, said that the committee had not yet met to discuss their ideas for the update. Plans for professors and students in the interim are not complete, she said.

The most likely scenario is that researchers located in the Arctic Health Building will be moved into labs in Bunnell and the Natural Science Building, probably doubling up with other people, O'Brien said. But at this time everything is subject to change, she said.

Final decisions are expected in the coming weeks. A design consultant has been chosen, and the design process is expected to begin by mid-October. The designs will be complete by the end of February, and the job will be bid out from March 13 to April 7.

Building will begin at the conclusion of spring semester, and will continue until December, when the project is supposed to be completed.

The building is expected to be move-in ready by January 2008.

The state is shelling out $26 million in capital funds for projects at UAF's Division of Design and Construction.

Other UAF projects receiving funding include maintenance and renovations to the Fine Arts Building, fire alarm and sprinkler installations, and asbestos removal. The Tanana Valley Campus also received $4 million for renovations.