Apartment Trusses Project 

 

In the spring of 2024, the Municipality of Anchorage sent out a notice to all of the owners within their jurisdiction of buildings with roofs built in a certain style recommending that the roof trusses be inspected due to the heavy snowfall we have seen the last few years. None of the buildings on UAA Anchorage Campus met the criteria for inspection. However, out of an abundance of caution, UAA hired an engineering firm to inspect the roofs in the apartments at the residential campus, which is why residents in the impacted areas may have noticed increased traffic from maintenance staff members and contractors going in and out of roof access points in the summer and fall of 2024. 

Late in the fall semester of 2024, the engineering firm released a report of their findings detailing the scope of work needed by building as well as relative snow load capacities based upon the types of repairs required. As an added safety measure, UAA contracted with a separate company to work with facilities to remove snow from the roofs as needed to ensure they do not exceed recommended tolerance levels established by the reports. 

Additionally, UAA has identified a construction company to perform the repair work to the roof trusses. We anticipate work will begin early in the spring 2025 semester and go through the end of the academic year though the timing for work on each individual building has yet to be determined. Each building will likely be impacted for a period between one and two months. 

The safety and security of our residents is our top priority. Updates on the progress of the project will be posted to this website as they are available. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What is happening?
  Recently, UAA learned that some of the roof trusses in the MAC apartments and Templewood townhomes need to be repaired. Structural engineers conducted a series of inspections of each MAC/Templewood roof to determine its ability to carry the loads necessary to support the snow that falls each winter here in Alaska. Out of an abundance of caution, the university has determined that it is best to start work as soon as possible which will mean that the repairs will happen during the academic year when residents are present in these spaces. 
• What buildings are impacted?
  All MAC apartments and Templewood townhomes will require repairs to their roofs. The Commons as well as East, North and West Halls are not impacted. 
• Why is it necessary to do the repair work during the school year?
  The university estimates that the repair work will take at least one calendar year (perhaps longer) to complete, thus repairs will have to take place during the academic year though all efforts will be made to minimize the impact on residents to the greatest extent possible.
• Who will be performing the repairs on MAC apartments and Templewood townhomes?
  The work will be performed by contractors from the community that will be working closely with and supervised by UAA staff.
• Who can I contact if I have questions or concerns? 
  You can contact the Department of Residence Life at (907) 751-7202 or via email at uaa_residencelife@alaska.edu at any time to learn more about the roof repair project or to ask any questions you may have. 
• Can I cancel my contract for the spring 2025, or request to move to a building that is not impacted by these repairs? 
  While the university doesn’t want any student to feel that it is necessary to seek housing options off campus, we do understand that the repairs could cause some students to look at other options available to them. Please work with Residence Life staff if you would like to talk further about your options. If you desire to move to a residence hall, Residence Life staff are available to assist you in identifying options though please note that space is extremely limited.
• When will my building be impacted?
  The university is currently working on a plan that will outline the repair schedule for each impacted building. We anticipate that each building repair will take approximately six weeks to complete. As soon as a complete repair schedule is available, the university will make residents aware of when their building will be impacted. Please note that with any construction project of this size, delays and changes to the schedule are possible.
• Can I still stay in my apartment/townhome over the winter break? 
  Yes, the university does not expect the repairs to begin until the start of the spring 2025 semester.
• Will I need to be out of my apartment/townhome while repairs are being completed?
  During the actual repair process when workers are repairing the roof of each building, it may be necessary to restrict access to the building for portions of the work day to ensure the safety of our residents and the workers conducting the repairs. Once a contractor has been selected for the work and a full schedule of the repairs determined, we will be able to share more details with you regarding this portion of the project.
• Is there potential that I may need to be relocated to a different living space during the repair process? 

  The university is taking all steps possible to avoid a scenario where students would have to leave their apartment/townhome unexpectedly. Specifically, UAA has contracted with a local company to ensure prompt snow removal from MAC and Templewood roofs to ensure that such action will not be necessary.  However, the winter in Alaska can be unpredictable and should our community experience a heavy snowfall above the amount tolerated, a temporary relocation may be necessary until such time as the roofs can be cleared of snow.  

• What will the snow removal process look like while this repair process is underway?  

  The university has contracted with a local company to remove snow from the roofs. This work will be done in consultation with university facilities staff to ensure that snow is removed in a safe manner. While snow is being removed from the roofs, outside sections of the building may have to be closed off where snow and ice may be falling. Heavy equipment may also be in the area to remove the snow from the ground once the scraping is completed. Every effort will be made to minimize the disruption to residents during this process.