Engineering students raise ice arch

Submitted by Marmian Grimes
Phone: (907) 474-7902
02/02/06

University of Alaska Fairbanks engineering students plan to raise the campus ice arch outside the Rasmuson Library Saturday, Feb. 4, 2006.

Building the ice arch is an annual springtime project at UAF, but this year’s team used an atypical construction technique. Rather than erect the arch piece by piece or by spraying water on a standing form, the team built wooden forms on the ground and filled them with water. Students added steel reinforcements during freezing and on Saturday, the group erected the entire one-piece arch with the assistance of a crane loaned by Ghemm Co.

Three veteran members of the ice arch team designed the arch. Student engineers also constructed ice stanchions to surround the ice arch after it was placed upright, rather than using the standard construction barriers. More than 20 students participated in the design and construction of the arch.

The project is a joint effort of the UAF student chapters of the Associated General Contractors of Alaska and the American Society of Civil Engineers. Johnson River Enterprises, Associated General Contractors and Ghemm Co. supported this year’s project.

UAF Public Information Officer Marmian Grimes at (907) 474-7902 or via e-mail at marmian.grimes@uaf.edu .