Museum of the North

This sculptural addition to the University of Alaska evokes the imagery of the state’s mountains, coastlines, and glaciers.  The Museum of the North Expansion was designed by the U.S.-based architecture firm HGA, and uses four abstract forms – angled, curved, tipped and cantilevered – to echo the native topography.  Horizontal layering is also incorporated into the design to represent Alaska’s shifting tectonic plates.  The façade is clad in custom pearlescent-white aluminum composite panels with mica flakes, to subtly capture and reflect Fairbanks’ varied light patterns.  In addition, in the museum’s heart is a sculptural lobby with two-storey windows that frame the Alaska Range, Mount McKinley, and the Tanana River Valley.